Megan Boken, 23, was killed Saturday afternoon while sitting in her car in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis.
She had returned to the city for an alumni volleyball game for former St. Louis University players.
Authorities initially said there were conflicting reports about the gunman, and that it was possible Boken knew her attacker. Bu, on Monday, St. Louis Police spokesman David Marzullo said there was no evidence she knew the gunman, and detectives were investigating the case as a probable attempted robbery.
The gunman has been described as a black male, with a medium complexion, and a thin build. He is 5’8″ to 5’10″, with short hair, and was last seen wearing a grey charcoal shirt, khaki pants, and white
tennis shoes.
Investigators have been processing Boken’s car for evidence and have been canvassing the area around the shooting for any surveillance video that might assist in the investigation.
Boken graduated from St. Louis University in 2011, and had moved back to Wheaton, but was back in St. Louis on Saturday for an alumni volleyball game.
“Just a real tragedy. Her family, it’s just hard to even fathom that she’s gone,” said Boken’s former gym teacher, Bill Cashin. “She was a very good student. She was a very good athlete. But best of all, she was just a real good kid. You know, nice to everybody.”
Former teammate Amelia Karges said Boken had just finished having lunch with a friend in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood when she was shot in or near her car, just before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
“They went their separate ways to walk to their cars, and Megan was on the phone with her mom when she got cut off. … This wasn’t somebody that she knew,” Karges said. “I think that’s why it’s so, so painful, is because this was so senseless. I mean, nobody – nobody – could ever have a motive against this girl. There was nothing not to love about her.”
A graduate of St. Francis High School in Wheaton, Boken was in her white Volkswagen in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood at about 2:15 p.m. Saturday, when she was shot in the neck and chest.
The gunman fled the scene on foot.
Boken, a 2011 SLU graduate, was in St. Louis for a reunion game for former volleyball players, scheduled to take place about two hours after she was killed.
In a statement, Boken’s family said, “Megan was a wonderful and beautiful human being loved by everyone she met. The family and the community are devastated by this senseless tragedy and the family would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of support. The initial reports that Megan knew her attacker are no longer believed to be true. The family asks that you keep Megan and them in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy at this time.”
St. Louis University also issued a statement on Boken’s death:
“We are shocked and saddened by this terrible and tragic loss. Megan was a truly outstanding student-athlete who excelled in the classroom and on the court. She exemplified the very best of what it means to be a Saint Louis University Billiken. Our focus right now is on providing as much support as we can for our students, and our thoughts and prayers are with Megan’s family and friends during this very difficult time.”
Source :CBS local
