Xavier Ferguson: Police Seek Leads in Murder of Church Worker
Categories: The Big Bloody (Homicides)
It's been more than 24 hours since Xavier Ferguson was gunned down outside his home in north St. Louis County. No one has stepped forward with any leads, and police say they're no closer to finding the shooter.
Ferguson, 46, was in his driveway in the 9700 block of Nolte (above) around 5:50 a.m. Monday when he was shot. He managed to make it back inside his home before collapsing and dying right inside the doorway. His wife and a four-year-old girl they were babysitting were inside the home at the time of the shooting and uninjured.
Ferguson's brother, Nolan, tells Daily RFT that his family remains in shock.
Xavier and Nolan's parents are the pastors for Chapel of Praise, a missionary church with locations in north county and north city. Nolan Ferguson says his brother performed maintenance work and other activities for the church.
"He was kind of a private person," says Nolan of his brother. "We've given the police everything we know."
At this point, authorities say they don't know whether Ferguson was randomly shot or targeted.
Court records indicate that in June of this year Ferguson was sentenced to three years probation on second-degree arson and burglary charges. Nolan says the sentence stemmed from an altercation his brother had a year earlier -- in June 2010 -- with nearby residents of his parents' church in the 4300 block of Shreve in north St. Louis.
Nolan says Xavier confronted some neighborhood kids about their inappropriate behavior. Later that day the parents of some of those kids came back and beat up his brother, says Nolan.
"You should have seen the photos," says Nolan. "His eye was swollen shut. He was a mess."
That same day Xavier allegedly retaliated by burning down a business belonging to one of the parents. "He just kind of snapped," says Nolan of his brother. "He's moved on since then. That happened over a year ago and is the only trouble he ever got into in his life."
Nolan says it's unhealthy to speculate as to who may have murdered his brother, but it seems likely to him that the killer knew his brother's routine.
"The person knew his schedule -- that he left for work at that time," says Nolan. "It's scary."
CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Ferguson's killer. Callers can leave their names or an anonymous tip at 1-866-371-TIPS.
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Ferguson's brother, Nolan, tells Daily RFT that his family remains in shock.
Xavier and Nolan's parents are the pastors for Chapel of Praise, a missionary church with locations in north county and north city. Nolan Ferguson says his brother performed maintenance work and other activities for the church.
"He was kind of a private person," says Nolan of his brother. "We've given the police everything we know."
At this point, authorities say they don't know whether Ferguson was randomly shot or targeted.
Court records indicate that in June of this year Ferguson was sentenced to three years probation on second-degree arson and burglary charges. Nolan says the sentence stemmed from an altercation his brother had a year earlier -- in June 2010 -- with nearby residents of his parents' church in the 4300 block of Shreve in north St. Louis.
Nolan says Xavier confronted some neighborhood kids about their inappropriate behavior. Later that day the parents of some of those kids came back and beat up his brother, says Nolan.
"You should have seen the photos," says Nolan. "His eye was swollen shut. He was a mess."
That same day Xavier allegedly retaliated by burning down a business belonging to one of the parents. "He just kind of snapped," says Nolan of his brother. "He's moved on since then. That happened over a year ago and is the only trouble he ever got into in his life."
Nolan says it's unhealthy to speculate as to who may have murdered his brother, but it seems likely to him that the killer knew his brother's routine.
"The person knew his schedule -- that he left for work at that time," says Nolan. "It's scary."
CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Ferguson's killer. Callers can leave their names or an anonymous tip at 1-866-371-TIPS.
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