ST. LOUIS — It was a sunny and seemingly peaceful Tuesday afternoon in downtown St. Louis.
However, around 10:30 Monday night, a startled Airieona Qualls saw police officers descend on her neighborhood.
"The gunshots were so loud like it woke me up out of my sleep," Qualls told 5 On Your Side's Robert Townsend.
In the heart of downtown near 15th and Olive Street, police say someone shot a man in his 20s.
He died at a hospital.
Police did not release his name as of Tuesday.
The deadly shooting happened just feet away from Qualls' apartment building where she lives with her two children.
"He was lying in the grass. It's very concerning because I'm constantly wanting to take my kids outside and things like that make me skeptical about being out on the front," the concerned mom said.
The man was the 51st homicide victim in St. Louis so far this year.
That number is slightly up compared to 48 this time last year.
"Something has be to be done," said Sharon Webb-Steele, president of the group Mothers Advocating Safe Streets.
Webb-Steele is fed up with the ongoing gun violence that's plaguing the city.
Violence records show it involves adults and teens.
"Some of these juveniles need to be charged as adults. Simple as that and if they're not charged then their parents need to be charged," Webb-Steele said.
A spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura Jones said the city "is taking steps to reduce crime and violence."
The city said juvenile shootings are down 47 percent, and the number of youth gun violence victims has decreased 50 percent from last year.
"The violence is out of control across the city and we need to get tougher on these criminals and we need to come up with stricter gun laws," said Gloria Gooden, the director of Housing, Safety and Economic Development for the Revitalization of Baden Association on the city's north side.
"I hope it would stop. I just hope the criminals would be considerate to the people who are just trying to live," added Qualls.
As of Tuesday night, police hadn't made any arrests in connection with Monday's deadly shooting near 15th and Olive Street.
They're asking anyone with information to call St. Louis police. To remain anonymous or possibly receive a reward, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477(TIPS).