Just 10 minutes into the prayer vigil, chaos erupted, McGrane said.

At least 50 people, including Myers’ family, were present when the vigil was interrupted by a disturbance in the street where several young men were arguing with one another, McGrane said.

“Mr. Myers Sr. and others tried to separate the group when someone pulled out a gun and started shooting,” McGrane said. “They started shooting, and then someone else started shooting. There were multiple shots fired all over the place.”

The three victims told officers they were hit as they tried to run from the gunmen, police said.

McGrane said women had run with their children as fast as they could.

“It was pretty bad,” he said. “Up until that moment it was peaceful.”

McGrane, who also had attended a similar vigil last year, said it was sad to see.

“It was where they tried to honor his memory,” he said. “What a burden to carry.”

Christine Byers of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.

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