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Roshon Sykes

Age 18

Saint Louis, Missouri

His hard work was paying off

He had a bright future. He finished his senior year early and had purchased his cap and gown with his own money.

He was a member of the class of 2018 at Pattonville High School and the Construction Career Development Initiative Class of 2019. He turned an Enterprise Rent-A-Car internship into a job.

It was the day after Christmas 2018, and he was working a shift, Roshon Sykes, 18, was driving northbound on Halls Ferry Road in North County, Missouri, when someone in another car opened fire. Sykes crashed and was found in his car, dead of a gunshot wound. 

By Holly Kauck · Age 17
Meet the Reporters

More than 100 diligent students

Martin Duque Anguiano

An ambitious, bright boy, senselessly killed

Christopher Johnson

Making others better versions of themselves

Kevin Wilson Jr.

Star athlete with a bright future

Amariah C. Emery

On her T-shirt, a peace sign

Francisco Puentes

Mom never received the happy news

Shondricka J'Nay Adams

Celebrating one night, gone the next

Jon-Marvin Revels Jacobs

He was on his way home

Martez Christopher Wade

“He wasn’t a statistic,” said mom

Jontae Billups-Brooks

An athlete and a music lover

Xzariah Denecca Rice

Her father died in her arms

Jo'Markius Fuller

Never to wear grandma’s scarves again

Caydence Nicole Painter

Reading, dancing, playing. Siblings shot together.

NeQuacia Porsha Jacobs-Lewis

High school graduation, diploma, career — gone

Kaileigh Lin Collier

Was “more beautiful than she knew”

Jonathan David Freeman Jr.

Debated anything, from music to Deflategate

Telvin Goll

He wished for the American Dream

Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn

About to start his senior year

Ryan Amadeo Dela Cruz

Gone, two weeks shy of graduation

Jayden Fondeur

His older brother found him first

Favian Isiah Carrillo Duran

Respectful, shy teen did grandma’s chores