St. Louis Protesters Decry Motorist Beaten To Death By 2 Teens

St. Louis Protesters Decry Motorist Beaten To Death By 2 Teens With Hammers

Protesters took to the streets of a St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday night to condemn the killing of a local Bosnian man by two teenagers with hammers early that day.

Police were responding as more than 50 people gathered in the area near Bevo Mill to mourn the death of 32-year-old Zemir Begic, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Demonstrators had blocked some traffic in the area, according to KMOV.

All my love & prayers are with the family & loved ones of Zemir Begic & the STL Bosnian community. pic.twitter.com/5gYpSGCRga

— Arnessa (@Rrrrnessa) December 1, 2014

Another photo of Zemir Begic, 32, victim of fatal hammer attack in #STL. Pictured with wife of six months, Arijiana. pic.twitter.com/TJ8R8eepOY

— joelcurrier (@joelcurrier) December 1, 2014

Begic was in his vehicle in the 4200 block of Itaska in the early hours of Sunday when the teens advanced on him and began damaging the car, police said. After Begic exited the car, the teens started beating him with hammers. Begic was taken to St. Louis University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. He had injuries to his head, abdomen, face and mouth, the Post-Dispatch reported.

Two males, ages 15 and 16, were taken into custody. Police were searching for two other suspects in connection with the death, the Post-Dispatch's Nicholas Pistor reported.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Dotson vowed to increase vehicle patrols and add foot patrols in Bevo Mill in the wake of the attack, said a statement posted by Lewis Reed, the president of the St. Louis Aldermen Board.

The statement also announced a fundraiser to assist the family of victim Zemir Begic with funeral costs.

The demonstrations over Begic's death come amid the nationwide protests over the grand jury decision to not indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown on Aug. 9. Earlier on Sunday, protesters descended on the St. Louis Rams' stadium to protest the Ferguson decision.

CLARIFICATION: This article been updated to more appropriately characterize the relationship between demonstrations over Begic's death and that of Michael Brown.

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