A 32-year-old man was beaten to death with hammers by at least two teens early Sunday morning on Itaska Street.
The victim was identified as Zemir Begic, 32, of the 4200 block of Miami Street. He had injuries to his head, abdomen, face and mouth. He was taken to St. Louis University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Begic was in his vehicle in the 4200 block of Itaska about 1:15 a.m. when several juveniles approached on foot and began damaging it. Begic got out and the juveniles began yelling at him and striking him with hammers. Two male juveniles, 16 and 15, were taken into custody.
… Two were caught and taken into juvenile custody. Police are still searching for two others, a 16-year-old black male and a 15-year-old Hispanic.
“We have been in the U.S. since 1996. The reason we moved from Bosnia was because of the war and the killing, and then it happened here. I just want justice for Zemir. That’s all I want. Our family will never be the same. It’s hard. Waking up this morning, I felt like it was a dream, it was so hard to believe.
If they don’t get death row, I hope they get life in prison. I don’t want anyone else’s family going through the same stuff. It’s just hard, I can’t even describe it.
If kids end up doing this kind of crime, they should get punished as an adult. People are telling me that because they’re younger, the judge might not press as hard of charges. I don’t think these kids should be out on the streets and they need to be held accountable to the fullest extent that justice can give.”
Begic had just gotten married, and his wife, Arijana, was reportedly in the car with him when he was killed. The Bosnian community held a peaceful demonstration — see, Mike Brown supporters, it’s possible to express your outrage without looting and setting businesses on fire! It’s still early to know whether or not this murder was related to the Mike Brown protests, but it’s shameful that the media is silent when a white man is killed by black and Hispanic thugs.