Pine Lawn police officer kills 17-year-old rap performer (St. Louis County)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | Nov. 28, 2003

[Missouri]

Pine Lawn police officer kills 17-year-old rap performer By Bill Bryan Post-Dispatch 11/28/2003

Kyle Dismukes, a young rapper from Overland, recently cut a CD aptly titled "Streets Tell It All."

Shortly after performing songs from the CD at the Cougars nightclub in Normandy, Dismukes was shot to death early Thursday by a Pine Lawn police officer after a traffic stop in the 2700 block of Kienlen Avenue.

The officer said he had stopped Dismukes' car for a traffic violation about 1:45 a.m. but that the youth grabbed his arm as he approached the driver's window and sped away, with the officer clinging to the door.

The officer said he could not break free and fired into the car with his free hand after he was dragged for some distance, including when Dismukes, 17, made a U-turn in the street.

The officer's name was not disclosed.

The shooting was being investigated Thursday by St. Louis County police, who said they found a handgun in Dismukes' car.

Thursday's incident was the second fatal shooting in two weeks of a St. Louis County teenager who apparently was trying to flee from police. On Nov. 16, Byron Harmon, 15, was fatally shot when two St. Louis County officers fired into a car at a trailer park on St. Charles Rock Road.

The officers said they fired because their safety was jeopardized, but a friend of Byron's who was in the car said Byron panicked and was simply trying to get away. The car Byron was driving turned out to be stolen.

Dismukes' mother, Cynthia Montgomery, 48, of Overland, said she wants a thorough investigation of the shooting.

"I want to know why they shot him. I find their account unbelievable," she said. "I'm not satisfied."

Dismukes was the youngest of Montgomery's six children, she said.

"He was a very loving person who was kind and intellectual," she said. "My son was very smart and a very good person."

Dismukes had been a rap performer since he was a little boy, his mother said.

He attended an alternative high school operated by the Ombudsman program and affiliated with Normandy High School.

One of Dismukes' sisters, Tamika Dismukes, 27, said she, too, wanted a better explanation from the police.

"We're getting the runaround from the police," she said. "They've been very vague."

County police isssued a news release describing the shooting but refused to comment further on Thursday, citing the Thanksgiving holiday.

Several of Dismukes' friends gathered in the street Thursday in the 6200 block of Bailey Place in Hillsdale where Dismukes often stayed. Bailey is just a few blocks from the shooting scene.

One close friend of the slain teen locked herself in an SUV with her head buried in her hands as she listened to the blaring music of Dismukes' CD.

Friends of Dismukes said he had been driving a 2001 Mercedes that belonged to a friend when he was shot, and some suggested that the fact that the car was a luxury vehicle may have been the reason the officer stopped it.

One man who would not give his name said he had been driving behind the police car and witnessed the incident. He said the officer fired almost immediately when Dismukes drove away, with the officer clinging to the door.

"The officer grabbed the door and Kyle hit the gas pedal, and the car came to a stop a short distance away," said the man, indicating a distance of perhaps 30 yards. The man said he didn't hear any gunfire but added that "the cop must have shot him right away" because of where the car stopped.

[Missouri]

It seems like a slow night here on the Free Republic. Cold and windy here in the St. Louis area. Thought I'd post a story.

[Missouri]

Local ping.

[Dog Gone]

Driving a stolen car, dragging a police officer.

Call in Jesse Jackson. Obvious miscarriage of justice.

[nuconvert]

"Byron panicked and was simply trying to get away. The car Byron was driving turned out to be stolen."

Ohhh.

[templar]

The officer said he had stopped Dismukes' car for a traffic violation about 1:45 a.m. but that the youth grabbed his arm as he approached the driver's window and sped away, with the officer clinging to the door. The officer said he could not break free and fired into the car with his free hand after he was dragged for some distance, including when Dismukes, 17, made a U-turn in the street.

I'm trying to picture this scene in my mind. It's not quite coming together in a way I can envision it actually happening.

[mountaineer]

"We're getting the runaround from the police," she said. "They've been very vague."

The explanation sounded specific enough to me. The punk tried to get away, and nearly killed an officer in the process.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Self defense. Dump kid. Case solved.

[Missouri]

Call in Jesse Jackson.

We have our own local Jesse Jacksons on the case. Al Sharpton does stop by every now and then to help shut down a highway.

[Missouri]

The car Byron was driving turned out to be stolen."

Yea, but nobody was using it at the time. (Sarcasm off)

[76834]

When you get stopped by the cops:
STOP, keep both hands in plain sight and say "Yes Sir"

[honeygrl]

This statement:

"My son was very smart and a very good person."

And these statements:

"The car Byron was driving turned out to be stolen."
"He attended an alternative high school operated by the Ombudsman program and affiliated with Normandy High School."

don't match up. He doesn't sounds like a very smart or good person at all to me.

[Missouri]

At least their was no talent lost though.

Are you kidding? just think of all the contributions wanna-be rappers have made to our society. (More sarcasm).

I'd hate to see an air conditioner repair man or plumber get shoot.

My father always thought us to obey the police. Good advice on his part.

[76834]

Couldnt have been too damm smart or he wouldnt have been runnin from the cops, in the middle of the night in a stolen car.
Get stupid then get dead!!

[Veggie Todd]

"He was a very loving person who was kind and intellectual," she said. "My son was very smart and a very good person."

He was 17, performing crap music in a nightclub at night, left in a stolen car after midnight, and tried to kill a cop. I nominate her for Mother Of The Year.

[Eternal_Bear]

he fought the law....and the law won.

[chainsaw]

"He attended an alternative high school "

I caught that too. What is this alternative HS? For punk gang members?

[Wiggins]

Dismukes' mother, Cynthia Montgomery, 48, of Overland, said she wants a thorough investigation of the shooting.

Maybe with a thorough investigation we can find more crimes this thug committed and clean up a few more cases. Chances are this wasn't the first. Mommy might not be too happy with the results.

[Missouri]

"He attended an alternative high school

I caught that too.

"My son was very smart and a very good person."

Some people just have no shame. I wonder what the fathers status is?

[Missouri]

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this. the Post-Disgrace has accuracy problems.

[Doe Eyes]

Isn't the St. Louis Post Dispatch a liberal newspaper? Perhaps we should wait for a more moderate news source to report on this, such as Newsmax.com, before assigning blame.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Actually....I'm not making a judgment about the honesty of the report....but I've flipped through channels and stopped on one of those "Police Scariest Chases" video clip shows and seen a clip of a police officer dragged the way described.  Although, if I recall, the officer in the video was reaching for the keys of the vehicle because the driver wouldn't turn the car off.

[Missouri]

(Admittedly biased in this case; former St. Louis County ass't prosecutor)

One mans bias is another man's good judgement.

St. Louis County refuses to have a police review board and as a county resident (Florissant), I stand behind them on this one.

[Missouri]

He was 17, performing crap music in a nightclub at night

Why is it when the subject of rap comes up I think of the song by the country band, Confederate Railroad, called "Rap is Crap"?

[Missouri]

Cynthia Montgomery

Momma had five other children besides the rapper. I just have to wonder if they've caused any mayhem, too.

[WaterDragon]

Idiot rapper! His estate should be sued by the officer!

[Missouri]

Isn't the St. Louis Post Dispatch a liberal newspaper?

Very left-wing. It brings alot of shame to our state but I guess most big-city newspapers do.

Perhaps we should wait for a more moderate news source to report on this, such as Newsmax.com, before assigning blame.

I'm not sure why Newsmax would bother with a local story like this.

I'm not sure who is getting the blame for this shooting but I have to give the benifit of doubt to the police.

[cardinal4]

There must be some mistake, do you really expect me to belive a "young rapper" would have a gun and be in a stolen car??

[Missouri]

His estate

His estate??? LOL !!

I can only imagine would that might be.

[76834]

LOL
Used to live in "Pine Lawn" now is in a "Pine Box" under the lawn......

[Missouri]

There must be some mistake, do you really expect me to belive a "young rapper" would have a gun and be in a stolen car??

The stolen car was from the shooting last week in Pagedale. The rapper had a friends car.

As for the gun, I'll bet right now the Post-Disgrace's editorial dept. is trying to spin this so the Right-to-Carry movement here in Mo. gets the blame for this shooting.

[Peace will be here soon]

Shortly after performing songs from the CD at the Cougars nightclub in Normandy, Dismukes was shot to death early Thursday by a Pine Lawn police officer after a traffic stop in the 2700 block of Kienlen Avenue.

---

Gee, someone getting shot to death by a cop ( or anyone for that matter) in Pine Lawn, thats a new one. ( sarcasm obviously )

[South40]

"My son was very smart and a very good person."

That description fits all car theifs, I'm sure.

[cardinal4]

As for the gun, I'll bet right now the Post-Disgrace's editorial dept. is trying to spin this so the Right-to-Carry movement here in Mo. gets the blame for this shooting.

A good bet. It was a STL county judge who overturned it. Or attempted to. And When MO Supreme court upholds the right to carry, they gun haters will file in federal court..

[Missouri]

LOL

Used to live in "Pine Lawn" now is in a "Pine Box" under the lawn......

It would be more funny if I didn't live near that part of the county.

[Missouri]

Gee, someone getting shot to death by a cop ( or anyone for that matter) in Pine Lawn, thats a new one. ( sarcasm obviously )

Pine Lawn is adjacent to North St. Louis City. If the shooting had occured within the city limits, I believe the story would be handled differently. The city police work in fear of the politicians. In St. Louis County, most politicians support the police knowing that you can't give the criminals the upper hand out in the streets.

[temijin]

must have been a black officer who shot him, otherwise we would know by now.

[Missouri]

And When MO Supreme court upholds the right to carry, they gun haters will file in federal court..

I sure hope that the MO. Supreme court upholds it. With 3 Ashcroft appointees and 4 Carnahan appointees, I wouldn't want to put any money either way.

I have to believe that it will be a 4 to 3 decision either way. I'm hoping that one of the Carnahan appointees is a rural, yellow dog democrat and has enough courage to side for Right-to-Carry.

[Missouri]

Kyle Dismukes, a young rapper from Overland, recently cut a CD aptly titled "Streets Tell It All."

How come I've never heard of this guy? Have you?

I guess he'll never be the opening act for Toby Keith or the Kentucky Headhunters.

[Missouri]

must have been a black officer who shot him, otherwise we would know by now.

Your probably right. We'll see if the story goes away or not.

[FreePaul]

Armed car thief shot while endangering the life of a police officer. He was also a rap performer. Next case.

[Missouri]

rap performer.

He lived the life he rapped about and he died the way he rapped about.

[Peace will be here soon]

How come I've never heard of this guy? Have you?

Any fool with a computer can cut a CD. This guy was just another wanna-be rapper, who played some local gigs. He made it from Overland to Pine Lawn to a pine box. Soon to be a legend in the hood. Another great rapper cut down before his time................same old story that is played over and over in these areas.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This statement:

"My son was very smart and a very good person."

And these statements:

"The car Byron was driving turned out to be stolen."

"He attended an alternative high school operated by the Ombudsman program and affiliated with Normandy High School."

don't match up. He doesn't sounds like a very smart or good person at all to me.

The story is so poorly written that it is easy to miss the fact that there are two different incidents and two different kids being discussed.

The second kid who was killed a few weeks ago was driving a stolen car.

[Peace will be here soon]

The story is so poorly written that it is easy to miss the fact that there are two different incidents and two different kids being discussed.

If you gut through it everyday, you get used to it. But I`m sure nobody was jumping up and down wanting to take this story. So whoever got it had to be low on the ladder.

[Bonaparte]

"he fought the law....and the law won."

And it was kind of a drag.

[Bonaparte]

"I wonder what the fathers status is?"

She's probably wondering who the father is.

[Cindy]

WORTH REPEATING Article Snippet:

"The officer said he had stopped Dismukes' car for a traffic violation about 1:45 a.m. but that the youth grabbed his arm as he approached the driver's window and sped away, with the officer clinging to the door. The officer said he could not break free and fired into the car with his free hand after he was dragged for some distance, including when Dismukes, 17, made a U-turn in the street."

[Old Professer]

Two different youths, go back and read the story again.

[Old Professer]

The stolen car was being driven by a 15 year old in an earlier shooting incident; this boy was 17 and had borrowed the Mercedes.