Mario Purantez Washington, a 25-year-old Black man known for his uplifting and funny personality, was a devoted father who was deeply loved by his family and friends. Remembered as a "stand up guy" and a great father to his three children, he went by nicknames like "Mojo" and "Boontholis." His life was tragically and heroically cut short on the night of Sunday, August 31, 2014, in an act of compassion.
The incident unfolded just before 11:00 p.m. in the Penrose neighborhood of north St. Louis, Missouri. Police were called to the 4900 block of Penrose Street for a shooting. There, they found a 26-year-old woman who had been shot in the leg during an attempted robbery. As she lay wounded, Mario Washington rushed to her aid. It was in this moment of selfless intervention that the gunman turned his weapon on Mario, shooting him.
When officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the chaotic scene, they found Mario suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injury was too severe, and he was pronounced dead. The woman he had tried to help was also transported to the hospital and was listed in stable condition. She survived her injuries, a life spared in part by Mario's courageous sacrifice.
The investigation into Mario’s murder was handled by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Division. In the immediate aftermath, authorities worked to piece together the events of that night. They determined that the initial incident was a robbery targeting the female victim, which escalated into a double shooting and homicide when Mario intervened. However, police did not release a detailed description of the suspect, and no arrests were made in the days and weeks that followed.
The year 2014 was a particularly violent one for St. Louis, and Mario's death was one of many homicides that troubled the city. The context of that year’s violence, which drew national attention, often overshadowed individual cases, leaving families like Mario's searching for answers in the dark. Despite the heroic circumstances of his death, his case quickly grew cold.
In the years since, Mario Washington's loved ones have been left without justice. His children have grown up without their father, and his friends and family continue to mourn a man who was killed while trying to do the right thing. The community remembers him as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for a stranger.
As of today, the murder of Mario Purantez Washington remains unsolved. No suspects have been publicly identified, and no charges have been filed. The investigation is still open but inactive, waiting for the new information that could break the case open. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department continues to ask for the public's help, and anyone with information is urged to contact St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers.
