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.
Wonder how this just gets swept under the table…We need to get control of the media! And our Government!
Your evil,same mentality the looters have.stop blaming it only enslaved you more.
They never report on death if it’s a white man getting killed by blacks they are so one sided we hurt just like blacks when it’s one of ours the only thing we don steal or burn things down so to you that’s not new worthy maybe if we started caring on we might get your attention
Bosnian make says take my life over his wives while he gets struck down dead. $$$ or something was involved…wait and watch!
And I think the looting will stop,I believe there’s more good people then bad ones.
No i am not evil! I am sick of the mentality that you people have! You think you are superior to others and you are far from it! You are racist and hateful!!!! HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE!!! People like you make my race look bad!!!!!!!!!!
yea, but unfortunately there are more bad cops than good ones seems like and judging by the comments made here and on so many other sites, racism is alive and well!!! This will not end until your generation is dead and gone because there are sooooo many of you who still cannot look past skin color
Bet it never makes it past the local news.
Under no circumstances or excuses are bad and barbaric behavior acceptable or productive means of healing a community.
Like I said your enslaving yourself going around Hating people with the same mentality as you have.I know cause I was the same way,I just got tired of feeling all that hate all the time ,just don’t let the race baiters get to you.it spreads like a cancer,be the cure,not the problem.I hope one day you can find piece with yourself