A 24-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting death of a retired police captain at a pawn shop in northwest St Louis, Missouri, on Tuesday.
David Dorn, 77, was shot and killed by looters shortly at about 2:30 a.m. just outside the front door of Lee’s Pawn & Jewelry, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Dorn was a friend of the pawn shop owner and would often check on the building at night to make sure no robberies had taken place.
St Louis police announced Sunday that Stephan Cannon had been charged with first degree murder, first degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of armed criminal action.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office said no bond was allowed for the charges. KMOV reported that a second man, Jimmie Robinson, was arrested in connection with the break-in but not the murder. He was charged with burglary, armed criminal action, and stealing. A $30,000 bond was set for Robinson.
Officers also arrested Jimmie Robinson & the @STLCAO issued one count of Burglary 1st, one count of Armed Criminal Action, and one count of Stealing (F). Bond was set at $30,000 cash only. #ArrestsMade pic.twitter.com/iLHCmBShuu
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) June 7, 2020
The arrests came two days after police released surveillance footage showing seven people entering the pawn shop 15-20 minutes before Dorn was shot. According to KMOV, Cannon told police he cut his hair to change his appearance after seeing the footage.
As CrimeOnline reported, the video shows the suspects enter the building between 2:13 a.m. and 2:16 a.m., according to the time stamp. They rush around in the building, in and out of rooms. Two of them are seen holding handguns, and one of them appears to have cut his hand crawling in. If the time stamp on the video is correct, Dorn may have come upon the looters as they were leaving the pawn shop.
A Facebook Live video that showed the aftermath of the shooting began at 2:32 a.m., according to its time stamp. Initial reports said that this video showed the shooting; it did not, but it appears that the man who shot it witnessed the shooting and went live immediately after.
“He was murdered by looters at a pawnshop. He was the type of brother that would’ve given his life to save them if he had to. Violence is not the answer, whether it’s a citizen or officer,” the victim’s family wrote on social media.
Former St Louis police chief Tim Fitch called Dorn “a true public servant.”
A true public servant. Protecting & serving all the way to the end. None of us who knew you are surprised you went out fighting at Lee's Pawn this morning. God speed my friend. #DavidDorn pic.twitter.com/i9X7q9hKIc
— Tim Fitch (@ChiefTimFitch) June 2, 2020
Dorn worked for the St. Louis Police Department for 38 years before becoming police chief in Moline Acres. His colleagues remember him as a hardworking, kind and honest person.
“David Dorn was a fine captain, many of us young officers looked up to him,” St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden said.
Crime Stoppers offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the suspects; that reward has since topped $45,000, according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch. Tipsters can call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
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[Feature Photo: David Dorn/Handout]
