Family seeks justice for slain Jennings teen
ST. LOUIS — Whoever murdered 14-year-old Michael Goulbourne on Friday at his family’s portable barbecue stand is still roaming free, and his stepmother is pleading for the public’s help.
“I’m begging people, if they have any compassion in their heart, just report it to the detectives,” said Ava Johnson. “Because it’s my kid today who dies, and could be your kid tomorrow if you don’t talk, if you don’t parent these kids.”
She’s heard about the “no-snitching” code entrenched in some crime-ridden pockets of the city, where people hold their tongues to avoid becoming involved with the police. But Johnson and her family in Jennings are hoping it’s not in play here — and that witnesses start talking and providing the clues to break the case.
Police think they might have a lead on the killers’ getaway car, but no arrests had been made by Monday afternoon.
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Michael’s father, Rueben Goulbourne, was robbed but uninjured. A 50-year-old man who works the grill was shot in the thigh and hand; he was treated at a hospital and released.
Presumably, Mr. Goulbourne was able to provide police with a description of the suspects. Far be it from the Post-Dispatch to print all the details of these suspects, other than “three men,” (that sure narrows it down a lot). After all, if they do that, then someone who knows where they are might actually read it, call the cops and have them arrested, and this would have the dangerous side effect of the victim’s family getting the justice they seek sooner than it otherwise would have happened. That would to be too undiverse.
Even if/when they are caught, going out on a really thin limb and assuming that they’re St. Louis city’s usual crime suspects, the rest of the justice equation might not be so easy to come by. The problem is that their criminal trial will be held in St. Louis City. ‘Nuff said.
