| Murder of David Dorn | |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Date | June 2, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-06-02) |
Attack type | Murder byshooting |
| Victim | David Dorn, aged 77 |
| Perpetrator | Stephen Cannon |
| Motive | Botched robbery |
| Verdict | Guilty on all counts |
| Convictions |
|
| Burial | Valhalla Cemetery[1] |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment without the possibility ofparole |
On June 2, 2020,David Dorn, a 77-year-old retired police captain, was fatally shot after interrupting the burglary of a pawn shop inThe Ville, St. Louis.[2] The incident took place duringriots in St. Louis, Missouri following themurder of George Floyd.[3][4][5] Stephan Cannon, who was 24 years old at the time of the incident, was convicted of his murder on July 20, 2022.[6][7]
David Dorn | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1942-10-29)October 29, 1942 |
| Died | June 2, 2020(2020-06-02) (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Police officer atSt. Louis Metropolitan Police Department |
| Known for | Murder of David Dorn |
| Spouse | Ann Marie Dorn |
| Children | 5 |
David Dorn (October 29, 1942 – June 2, 2020) was an African-American captain in theMetropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis, working there from November 1969 to October 2007.[8] He later served as police chief ofMoline Acres from February 2008.[9]
The shooter, Stephan Cannon, a 24-year-old Black man fromGlasgow Village, Missouri,[10] was charged withfirst-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action,robbery,burglary,stealing andunlawful possession of a weapon.[11]
Another suspect, Jimmie Robinson, an African-American male, was charged with burglary, armed criminal action, and stealing.[10] An additional suspect, Mark Jackson, an African-American male, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, burglary, stealing, and armed criminal action.[12]
On June 2, 2020, Dorn was discovered on the sidewalk in front of Lee's Pawn and Jewelry inThe Ville around 2:30 a.m.[2] Despite a city-wide curfew, he had reportedly been responding to the burglar alarm of his friend'spawn shop when he was killed. His death was streamed onFacebook Live.[13][14]
The thirteen-minute video was briefly taken down by Facebook before being reinstated with a warning screen. In the video, a young man states: "Oh my God, cuz....They just killed this old man at the pawn shop over some TVs....c'mon, man, that's somebody's granddaddy."[14]
Crime Stoppers offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest;[13] this amount was later raised to $56,700.
On June 5, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Section released surveillance footage to the public to provide clues and evidence in their investigation of David Dorn's death.[15][16] The video captured a total of seven suspects trespassing at Lee's Pawn and Jewelry at 4123 Martin Luther King Drive. The footage was taken on June 2 from 2:13 a.m. to 2:16 a.m. All suspects in the video had their faces concealed. Six wore masks, and one had a white shirt wrapped around his face and head. At least two of the men were seen armed with handguns. One person pulled his handgun to target the entrance before joining the others. Another suspect had a cut on his left palm. The reward for additional information that could capture the criminals was raised another $6,000 since the surveillance video's release.[15][16]
On June 7, a 24-year-old suspect named Stephan Cannon was charged withfirst-degree murder, robbery, and being a prohibited possessor of a firearm.[17] Cannon's trial started on July 18, 2022.[18] During the trial Cannon's co-defendant Mark Jackson testified against Cannon in a plea deal in which Cannon pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and burglary which dropped Jackson’s charges of second-degree murder, stealing and three counts of armed criminal action in exchange for Jackson’s testimony that he drove Cannon to and from the pawn shop where Dorn was killed.[clarification needed] Jackson was given a suspended 15-year prison sentence that includes five years probation.[19]
On July 20, Cannon was found guilty of first degree murder, first degree burglary, and three counts of armed criminal action. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole on October 5.[20][21][22][23][24]
A small memorial was quickly set up outside the shop, with a handwritten sign stating; "Y'all killed a black man because 'they' killed a black man??? Rest in peace." St. Louis Police ChiefJohn Hayden Jr. ordered all the department’s officers to wear black mourning bands on their police badges to honor Dorn.[14]
SeveralGoFundMe fundraisers quickly sprang up online, although none of them were endorsed by family members. AFundly account has been endorsed by the family and they have asked for support of organizations such as CrimeStoppers orBackStoppers.[14]
Dorn's widow, Ann Dorn, spoke in favor ofDonald Trump at the2020 Republican National Convention. She spoke about her husband's death, over the objections of their daughters who stated that he was opposed to Donald Trump.[25][26]
His widow, Ann Marie Dorn, told reporters that her husband was a friend of the owner of the store and would routinely check on the business when the alarm would go off.[2]
The former St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Finch called Dorn a "true public servant".[14]
Missouri GovernorMike Parson related the shooting of Dorn with the murder ofGeorge Floyd, tweeting that neither should have died, and that violence and criminal activity that had nothing to do with protests against Floyd's murder needed to stop.[27]
TheEthical Society of the Police, an organization which supports black police officers in the United States, tweeted "(Dorn) was murdered by looters at a pawnshop. He was the type of brother that would've given his life to save them if he had to. Violence is not the answer, whether it's a citizen or officer. RIP Captain!"[9]
