A Bosnian man from St. Louis, Zemir Begic, died yesterday after 3 teens beat him to death with hammers in front of his wife. Begic was struck in the head, abdomen, face and mouth.
The wife states that the killing must have been a hate crime as nobody knew the man in the community. She also states that Begic handled the incident in such a way as to give his life up for hers.
The Bosnian community is protesting alongside Ferguson protesters over Begic’s death.
Every version of the story has omitted the race of the attackers.
On Sunday night, a group blocked traffic on Gravois Avenue near Itaska Street.
All of this for 32-year-old Zemir Begic, who was killed early Sunday morning after police say at least two teenagers beat him with hammers.
“That is out of anger because he doesn’t deserve this and most of these people don’t even know him,” Bejic’s wife, Arijana Mujkanovic, said.
She says she was there and witnessed her husband’s brutal death.
“The last thing he did before he actually died was pull me out of the way and put himself in front of me, basically giving up his life for me,” Mujkanovic says.
Now, a memorial marks the spot near where Begic lost his life.
Community members began gathering Sunday afternoon, then spilled over into the street. Police showed up, approached the crowd and began to talk.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Captain Dan Howard rounded up the crowd, telling them they have two teenagers, 15 and 16-years-old, in custody.
“One thing you should know we will keep you in the loop,” Captain Howard said.
Police Chief Sam Dotson said they are making good on that promise.
“We have a nickname of another suspect, so we will have that suspect in custody and I am sure we will get the names of the others that were there as well,” Chief Dotson said.
Most of those blocking traffic say they don’t feel safe in the Bevo Mill neighborhood and want to see a change.
“We build this neighborhood here but we are not safe here anymore,” one community member said.
“You are safe,” Captain Howard replied.
Before leaving the scene, Chief Dotson thanked the group for bringing up their concerns.
“The whole idea of standing out in the street is to get our attention, you got my attention,” Chief Dotson said.
Chief Dotson says it was an isolated incident and was not targeted because he was Bosnian.
Dotson says he will increase the patrols in the area on the streets, and sidewalks, effective immediately.
ANIMALS!!!!
He’s white, it doesn’t fit the Politically correct agenda.
Where is the Atty. Gen. Where is the President. Where is Al Sharpton. Oh, yes, this man doesn’t count because they can’t use his death to race bait and cause riots.
I was reading about this murder in the River Front Times today. So very sad that they came here to the USA to flee from the killing of their family . . . only for him to be killed one mile from his home by racist black boys! This is a very sad story! I hope that St. Louis makes a BIG issue of his death . . . and these 3 black kids will face the same punishment as any adult would in a court of law! This man had nothing to do with the Brown issues and was minding his own business when he was attacked. He should not have gotten out of his car when them began beating the car with a bat . . . he should have run over them, two or three times, until they were dead! Sad, very sad!
The police can’t be there to protect everyone, at all times. This is what the right to bear arms is all about: legal self defense.
unbelievable evil
Dumb ass NIGS!
The media would ignore all of this because he wasn’t BLACK.
This was the man I posted about the other day who was from the area in which I live. The senselessness of the act was appalling. 3 teens threw their lives away for nothing! This man and his wife were minding their own business and he was beaten to death in front of her. In the wrong place at the wrong time! SERIOUS ISSUES with those teens!!
I find the entire concept of “Hate Crimes” to be bizarre.