St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones “Didn’t Flinch” As Gunshots Interrupted News Conference

Gunshots rang out Friday while St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones spoke at a news conference addressing gun violence. 

Jones was mid-sentence when four shots could be heard close to where they were speaking. She paused for only a couple of seconds before continuing.

Gunfire was heard as St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones was speaking during a press conference at an event focused on reducing violent crime pic.twitter.com/YcNl344mUf

— Reuters (@Reuters) October 30, 2021

“It’s unfortunate, and, yes, I heard it. But I didn’t flinch because, you know, I guess it’s a part of my life. And that shouldn’t be,” she said when asked if she heard it. “We should not have Stockholm syndrome when we hear gunshots in the distance. We should be angry, and we are angry. But it’s an unfortunate daily occurrence in our community, and so that’s what this conversation was about today.”

When asked if she feels safe, Jones said she hears gunshots in her neighborhood every night. 

“My son and I fall asleep to the lullaby of gunshots in the distance every night,” she said. “I am the first mayor in over 20 years to be born, raised, and still live in St. Louis. We live in a neighborhood where you hear it more often than not.”

Before the press conference, Jones had participated in a roundtable discussion with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. The two mayors discussed the gun violence plaguing their cities.

Lucas echoed Jones’ sentiment in a tweet, saying that he too had experienced the sound of gunshots while growing up.

The sound of gunshots is a regular occurrence in too many areas of my city as well; something I grew to know from youth. Today’s shots reminded us of the reality so many of our sisters, brothers, and babies face each day and the need for change. https://t.co/ri6aH0vti3

— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) October 29, 2021