STL Today
March 3, 2015
A 16-year-old certified to stand trial as an adult in the hammer slaying of a Bosnian immigrant Zemir Begic was charged Friday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
Darrian Johner, of the 3500 block of Minnesota Avenue, is being held at the St. Louis City Jail on $1 million cash-only bail, Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce reported.
Johner is the second person to be charged in the killing of Zemir Begic, 32, on Nov. 30 in the Bevo Mill neighborhood. Robert Joseph Mitchell, 17, of Winnebago Street, also has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
Police say that about 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 30, Johner, Mitchell and two other teens, 16 and 15, exchanged words as Begic walked past them and got in his car parked near Gravois Avenue and Itaska Street.
Police said someone hit or kicked Begic’s car, and Begic then got out and exchanged more words with the teens. He was attacked and struck with what investigators said was more than one hammer.
Many at the scene claimed that Begic was attacked because he was Bosnian; the suspects are black and Hispanic. Detectives have said the investigation has not uncovered a racial motive.
Begic lived in the 4200 block of Miami Street.