Investigators say the gunfire came amid a string of crimes involving teens in north St. Louis County.
BERKELEY, MO — A Berkeley resident was shot outside his home after going to check a car alarm, police said, an incident that unfolded just before Thanksgiving about three years ago on a residential block near North Hanley Road. The victim, identified as Manasseh Kimbrough, survived and later described being struck moments after he opened his door.
Authorities say the shooting matters now because detectives have tied it to a broader series of crimes in the area that day, including a reported carjacking in a nearby Walmart parking lot. Berkeley Police have discussed the case publicly as they continue to review leads and compare surveillance footage gathered from businesses along key corridors. The victim’s account, combined with police timelines, places the gunfire within minutes of other offenses and highlights an ongoing effort to determine the total number of suspects and vehicles involved.
According to police summaries and the victim’s account, Kimbrough heard his car alarm blaring and stepped to his doorway to look toward the street. He reported seeing movement near his vehicle before gunfire erupted, striking him as he tried to retreat inside. “It happened so fast,” Kimbrough said, adding that he focused on getting back to safety and calling for help. Officers responded within minutes, securing the street for paramedics and collecting shell casings. Detectives canvassed homes for doorbell video and asked nearby businesses for recordings that might show the suspects’ route before and after the shooting.
Berkeley Police Major Steve Runge has said investigators believe the gunfire is linked to a group of teenagers suspected in a short crime spree that included vehicle theft and a carjacking at a Walmart lot not far from the victim’s home. Officials have not released the number of teens believed to be involved, the caliber of the weapon used, or whether the same vehicle appears across all incidents. Police described the suspects as moving quickly between locations, suggesting a coordinated series of offenses. Kimbrough was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and later recounted the moments between the alarm and the shots in a recorded interview. The exact medical details of his recovery have not been made public.
Berkeley, a city of about 9,000 near Lambert International Airport, has long worked with neighboring agencies in St. Louis County on violent-crime investigations and on sharing camera footage from commercial corridors. Police in the North County region have previously warned about crews testing car doors and targeting parked vehicles in evening hours, especially around shopping centers and apartment complexes. The reported link between this shooting and a carjacking at a large retail lot tracks with past patterns investigators have described, in which suspects shift quickly from neighborhoods to high-traffic parking areas before leaving the scene via major roads.
Detectives are reviewing incident reports from that week and comparing timestamps from home-surveillance and store cameras to finalize a sequence. No charges tied specifically to the shooting had been announced as of Friday, and police have not named suspects. Officials said they plan additional outreach to residents and businesses for any video or details that could clarify which vehicle was near the victim’s car when the alarm sounded. If arrests occur in related theft or carjacking cases, prosecutors could file additional counts after reviewing ballistic testing and any statements. Police indicated they will release updates if there are developments in the investigation.
Neighbors said the block remained quiet after officers cleared the scene, with porch lights on and cars pulled into driveways. One resident, who asked not to be named, said the sound of the alarm carried down the street just before the gunfire. Another neighbor described seeing police go house to house for camera footage later that night. Kimbrough, who has since spoken publicly about what happened, said he still notices the moment he opened the door whenever an alarm chirps or a car locks on the street.
As of Friday, the case remains open, with investigators comparing camera clips and incident logs from the same evening to confirm whether the shooting and a nearby carjacking were carried out by the same group. Police said they will share the next update once they complete the review of surveillance footage and related reports.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.