The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 6-year-old Marcus Johnson was fatally shot on Wednesday after a traffic dispute escalated to gunfire.
Marcus' mother, Quiana Johnson, told the Post-Dispatch that Marcus had been diagnosed with heart disease since he was born. Her son had just undergone surgery the week before, and she wanted to take the family out to enjoy the outdoors.
"We got a chance to get out of the house to do some things as a family," she said. "I just got a car, and it was a nice day."
Marcus Johnson, at left, was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon on his way home from the park. At right, he and his family pose for a photo.
Quiana and her husband, Marcus Johnson Sr., drove the 6-year-old and his four siblings (aged 7, 10, 11, and 15) on Wednesday evening to O'Fallon Park in St. Louis. A family friend, aged 69, also accompanied them.
According to Quiana, as the group began to pull out of the park, her husband saw someone he recognized driving past. Both vehicles stopped, and the men exchanged greetings.
Soon, another man approached from behind the Johnsons' vehicle, complaining that they were stalling other cars.
"You can't hold this traffic up," Quiana recalled the man saying. "This is my 'hood."
The other car drove off shortly after, and the man returned to his car. Quiana noted how upset he appeared.
"He had the devil in his eyes," she said.
Before the family had exited the park in their minivan, they heard shots fired. Bullets hit their car, shattering the windows.
Quiana pulled out her own gun and handed it to her husband, instructing him to fire back, but then discovered her 6-year-old son had been shot in the chest.
"Bullets were flying past my head as I crawled to my baby," she told the Post-Dispatch.
"I said, 'Little Marcus, wake up, don't go to sleep. Mommy is right here with you. Wake up.' He was trying."
According to a statement prepared by the St. Louis Police Department, law enforcement arrived at the scene around 7:30 p.m. and drove Marcus Johnson to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His 15-year-old brother and the family friend were also struck by bullets, and have since been declared stable.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and have not yet released to the public a description of the shooter.
Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.