Crime
Car fatally strikes 39-year-old Shirley Howard pushing stroller in north St. Louis
2-year-old critically injured.
St. Louis, MO – Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred in North St. Louis on Monday, January 20, 2025, as 39-year-old Shirley Howard.
The tragic incident took place at approximately 2:00 p.m. near the intersection of West Florissant Avenue and Arlington Avenue.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, a vehicle driven by a man in his 80s was traveling westbound on West Florissant when it struck Ms. Howard, who was pushing a stroller with a 2-year-old child. Reports indicate that Ms. Howard was walking in the street, possibly near a snowbank, at the time of the collision.
Emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene; however, despite their efforts, Ms. Howard was pronounced deceased on-site.
The child sustained serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Medical officials have since reported that the child’s condition has been upgraded to critical but stable.
The St. Louis Police Department’s Accident Reconstruction Unit is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities have not yet determined whether Ms. Howard was walking in the roadway to avoid icy sidewalks or attempting to cross the street when the collision occurred.
Officials urge anyone with information related to this tragic incident to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
The community is encouraged to keep Ms. Howard’s family and loved ones in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.