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St. Louis ciyy and county police are launching a new program that targets violence in high-crime areas.

The "St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence" or "SIRV" was announced this morning. Officials say SIRV is a grass roots crime fighting effort that will combine the efforts of additional police resources and community leaders. The pilot program will focus on kids and young adults and include Jennings in North County and the Walnut Park and Baden neighborhoods in north St. Louis.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson, St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch, and former police chief Dan Isom, were on hand for the announcement.

   The murder of a north city teen is bringing a community together in an effort to combat violence.  His family watched in horror as 16 year old Pierre Childs was shot in the back in front of his home May 7th. Police have no suspects in his murder.  

   Tuesday night the teen's family, police and a group called "Positive Alternatives for Youth, Inc." held a town hall meeting to work on a plan to curb violence in north St. Louis.  The plan includes drug sweeps and increased police patrols along with workforce training and GED classes.  

   St. Louis Police Major Ronnie Robinson says his department is backing the plan. "This is an issue for us, a very important issue of concern because of the fact that summertime is coming," he said.  "And you know, as the hotter it gets, sometimes it gets more aggressive on the streets as far as criminal activity is concerned."

   It's not known yet if Mayor Francis Slay or the Board of Aldermen will do the same.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - More than 11 years after Mitchell Osburn was arrested in the stabbing deaths of three Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District workers, the case is finally resolved.

Osburn entered an Alford Plea Tuesday to three counts of each of first-degree murder and armed criminal assault. The plea is not an admission of guilt but a concession that there is enough evidence for a conviction.

Sentencing will be July 12.

The three workers in their 40s - Steven Weiss, Joseph Bisso and Robert Whitson - were among five sewer district workers socializing after a day of work at Lion's Park in the St. Louis County town of Valley Park on March 8, 2002.

Police said Osburn attacked them with a knife. He did not know the victims.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Election day attacks in Pakistan have killed at least 16 people and wounded dozens more even as voters defy the danger posed by militants to cast ballots in a historic day at the polls.

The violence was a continuation of what has been a brutal election season that saw at least 130 people killed in bloody Taliban attacks, mostly against liberal secular parties who have supported military operations against the militants.

It's the first time Pakistan is making the transition from one elected government to the next.

The closely watched vote in the nuclear armed nation pits a former cricket star against a once-exiled, two-time prime minister and an incumbent blamed for many problems.

   ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani officials say gunmen have attacked an election rally in the southern Punjab province and abducted the son of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

   A police official, Abdul Rehman, says gunmen stormed the rally in the town of Multan, opened fire and seized Ali Haider Gilani on Thursday.

   A Punjab government official, Rao Iftikhar Ahmad, says one of Gilani's guards was killed and five people were wounded in the attack.

   Thursday is the last day of campaigning for Pakistan's election scheduled this Saturday.

   But the race has been marred by a string of violent attacks against candidates and election events.

Three suspects are now in custody connected to the so-called Craigslist assault from last month.

A father and son showed up in North St. Louis to buy an SUV they saw an ad for on Craigslist. When the men arrived, they were robbed at gunpoint. 19-year-old James McConnell is the most recent suspect charged for stealing $2,500 from the family members.

Devion Russell, Christopher Duffy, and McConnell all faces multiple charges, including robbery and assault. 

No leads after a teen was shot North St. Louis on Sunday afternoon.

Police say the 16-year-old boy was shot in broad daylight--3:30 Sunday afternoon. Officers found the victim lying on the front porch of a home with gunshot wounds to his chest and back. Fox 2 reports the teen remains in critical condition.

Police have released no information on a suspect.

No suspect is in custody after a victim was gunned down in St. Louis.

41-year-old Terrance Morgan was shot around 5PM yesterday just blocks from the Scott Joplin Historic Court House. Witnesses told officers they saw a black man leaving the scene, but no description has been given. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers.

A 34-year-old man faces several charges after prosecutors say he tried to rape a Bridgeton woman before violently attacking her with a hammer.

Police say on April 21 Daniel Lee broke into the woman's home to steal coins. Lee found the home owner then allegedly tried to rape her and started to viciously beat her with the hammer. During the arrest, police say Lee also tried to grab an officer's gun.

The Major Case Squad held a press conference around 11:30 AM, but released no new information on an Overland murder investigation.

What we do know is 22-year-old Zachariah Anderson was shot to death around 10 last night, just inside the front door of his home. Witnesses told police they saw three or four men running away from Anderson's house.

Police say they will continue to investigate possible motives in the hopes of identifying any suspects.