MCS Report #6
Classification: Homicide
Requesting Agency: East St. Louis Police Department
Date of Activation: 05/09/1968
Commander and Department: Capt. Nicholas Valenti, St. Louis Metropolitan PD
Victim: Shirley McDonald
Suspect: Unknown
The East St. Louis Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the death of Shirley McDonald (age 21). At approximately 11:20pm, police officers responded to Dairy Queen (1427 St. Clair Avenue) for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered employee Shirley McDonald had been shot and already taken by ambulance to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Another employee (age 22) was still on scene and had been shot and seriously wounded. A customer (age 25) had also been shot but fled the scene prior to police arrival. The other employee and customer both survived their injuries.
An investigation revealed Shirley McDonald and the other employee were robbed at gunpoint as they were closing the Dairy Queen store for the night. During the robbery, both employees as well as a customer who was still at the store were all shot.
Anyone with information in this case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
