ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have identified the man killed in a shooting Monday afternoon outside a funeral home in Midtown.
The shooting occurred just after 1:10 p.m. in the parking lot of the Reliable Funeral Home, located in the 3900 block of Washington Avenue. Between 50 and 75 mourners were inside attending services for 33-year old Thelma Calmese.
After the funeral, witnesses said the father of Calmese’s five-year old daughter showed up and attempted to take her with him, even though the man did not have legal custody rights. A fight broke out in the parking lot.
George Calmese Jr., 39, attempted to stop the man from taking the child and witnesses reported dozens of shots were fired.
Calmese Jr. was struck several times and pronounced dead at the scene. Another person suffered a graze wound to the leg and treated in the parking lot.
A person of interest has been taken into custody but no charges have been filed yet.
