St. Louis Bosnians on edge after hammer beating death

ST. LOUIS – Members of St. Louis’ sizable Bosnian community are embracing some of the tactics Ferguson protesters used after a 32-year-old immigrant was bludgeoned to death.

Hundreds of protesters rallied the past two nights in the Little Bosnia neighborhood as a response to the death of Zemir Begic, who was beaten with hammers early Sunday.

The shouts of “Bosnian lives matter” echoed the “Black lives matter” chant heard in Ferguson and beyond in the wake of Michael Brown’s police shooting death.

A 17-year-old has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in Begic’s death. Two others, ages 15 and 16, are in custody, with a fourth suspect at large.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay says the crime was not racially motivated nor connected to Ferguson.

This story was originally published December 2, 2014 at 10:30 AM with the headline "St. Louis Bosnians on edge after hammer beating death."