Cortez Scott Death – The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons is diving into a homicide investigation after a fatal shooting shook the 10100 block of Maraldo Place in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, on Friday night, February 28, 2025.
It all started around 8:22 p.m. when officers from the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department raced to the scene following a call about gunfire.
They arrived to find an adult male sprawled outside a home, riddled with gunshot wounds that left him clinging to life—an effort that ended tragically as he was pronounced dead right there on the quiet street.
The victim, identified as Cortez Scott, didn’t make it despite the quick arrival of emergency crews. County homicide detectives swooped in, taking over the case to unravel what led to the deadly burst of violence in this North County suburb. Was it a targeted hit, a heated argument gone wrong, or something else entirely?
They’re keeping tight-lipped for now, saying only that the investigation is active and ongoing. Neighbors whispered about hearing shots ring out suddenly, a sound that pierced the evening calm and left them peering through curtains, stunned at the chaos unfolding steps from their doors.
Bellefontaine Neighbors isn’t new to this kind of sorrow. The city, a small pocket of about 10,000 souls, has felt the sting of gunfire before—killings that dot its recent history like unwelcome markers. This time, it’s Cortez Scott’s turn to join that grim list, his body found on a street that’s more residential than rough.
Detectives are out there now, knocking on doors and scouring for any scrap of video that might show what happened—maybe a car speeding off or a figure slipping into the night. “We’re working every angle to get answers,” one officer was overheard saying, though no suspects have been named as Sunday morning dawns.
The response was fast—Bellefontaine Neighbors police hit the scene within minutes, county backup not far behind. Medics tried to save Scott, but the wounds were too much, too deep. “It happened so quick, and then he was gone,” a shaken resident murmured, watching as police tape went up and lights flashed into the night.
The county cops are asking for help, urging anyone who saw or heard something to call 636-529-8210—or drop an anonymous tip at 1-866-371-8477 if they’d rather stay in the shadows. There’s even a chance for a reward, they say, if it leads to a break in the case.
For now, the investigation churns on, and Bellefontaine Neighbors wrestles with another loss. Cortez Scott’s death leaves a hole—family grieving, neighbors rattled, and a community wondering what’s next. The why and who of it all remain locked away, waiting for detectives to pry them loose.
It’s a stark reminder of how fast life can turn in a place like this, where quiet nights can explode into tragedy without warning. As the St. Louis County Police dig deeper, they’re promising more details when the time’s right, but until then, Maraldo Place holds its breath, mourning a man taken too soon.