Crime
Two Brothers Victor Blount and Jeramie Blount Fatally Shot Following Domestic Dispute in North St. Louis
Two brothers were shot and killed Wednesday following a deadly altercation in north St. Louis City, according to police.
The incident occurred shortly before noon on Wednesday, January 14, 2025, in the 1000 block of Hamilton Avenue near Maple Street.
Officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to reports of a shooting and located a man in his 30s inside an apartment suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
As additional officers arrived, a second victim—a man in his 40s—was found nearby in a field with a gunshot wound.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The victims were identified as Victor Blount, 35, and Jeramie Blount, 40, brothers who both resided in the City of St. Louis.
Homicide detectives determined through preliminary investigation that the shooting stemmed from a family dispute inside the apartment.
Investigators believe the older brother shot the younger brother during the confrontation.
A woman in her 40s, who was also inside the apartment at the time, then fired at the older brother.
The woman was taken into custody and is cooperating with investigators.
Police stated that no additional suspects are being sought at this time.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Division at 314-444-5371.
Anonymous tips eligible for a potential cash reward may be submitted to CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
Crime
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Created Mall Shooting Simulator in Roblox
Investigators and online researchers have identified a Roblox account allegedly linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the deadly mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
According to platform officials, the account was discovered by users on the internet forum Kiwi Farms, who reported that Van Rootselaar had created a game — referred to on Roblox as an “experience” — that simulated a shooting inside a shopping mall.
The virtual environment appeared to resemble a Canadian retail complex, although it has not been confirmed whether the design was intended to replicate a specific real-world location.
Videos circulating on social media prior to its removal showed a player-controlled character collecting weapons and firing into crowds of animated civilians within the mall setting.
The footage quickly drew widespread concern given the seriousness of the real-world attack.
Roblox confirmed that the account belonged to the suspect and announced swift action in response.
“We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect,” the company said in a statement. “We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.”
Initially, reports suggested the game remained accessible despite the account being deleted. However, Roblox later clarified that the content has now been removed from the platform.
The company also noted that the mall-themed experience was only accessible through Roblox Studio, a development application used by creators to build games, rather than through the main platform available to general users.
As a result, the experience reportedly recorded only seven visits, indicating extremely limited exposure.
Investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s digital footprint, including online posts and usernames believed to match across multiple platforms such as Reddit, where references to Roblox activity were also reportedly found.
Van Rootselaar is accused of carrying out the February 10 shooting that left eight people dead and at least 25 others injured at the secondary school.
Authorities have not indicated whether the online content forms part of the official investigative findings, but technology platforms are increasingly scrutinized in the aftermath of violent incidents for potential warning signs.
Officials emphasize that the broader investigation remains active as law enforcement works to establish a complete timeline, understand possible motives, and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.