The late-night gunfire left him wounded on his front steps and an investigation still open.
BERKELEY, Mo. — A Berkeley man said he was shot outside his home after opening his front door to see why his car alarm was sounding late one night near Thanksgiving several years ago. He survived and is now urging answers as police continue to review leads in the case.
The shooting, recently highlighted by a local investigative broadcast, resurfaced a quiet block’s unanswered questions about who fired and why. The man, identified as Manasseh Kimbrough, said he heard his vehicle’s alarm, stepped out to look, and was struck by gunfire moments later. Berkeley police have not announced an arrest. Detectives have canvassed the area and checked for cameras, according to the broadcast, while the family says medical bills and lingering trauma followed.
Neighbors said the alarm sounded shortly before the man opened his door, and a burst of shots followed within seconds. Kimbrough said he did not approach the vehicle or confront anyone before he was hit. “I heard my car alarm and stepped out to look,” he said, describing how he fell back toward the entryway as family members called 911. Responding officers found shell casings in the street and secured the scene for crime lab technicians. The shooter fled before police arrived.
Police have not publicly identified a suspect or motive. The department has reviewed nearby security footage where available and asked residents to report anything they saw that night. Kimbrough said doctors removed a bullet and that he continues to recover. Records show the block where he lives is a mix of single-family homes near North Hanley Road, with traffic cameras at major intersections but patchy private surveillance on side streets. Investigators have not said whether the shots came from a moving vehicle or from someone on foot, and they have not confirmed how many rounds were fired.
Berkeley has confronted periodic gunfire reports over the years, similar to many inner-ring suburbs bordering St. Louis city limits. The neighborhood sits near airport corridors and commercial strips where police routinely respond to property crimes and vehicle break-ins. State data show violent crime trends have fluctuated in St. Louis County suburbs, with some blocks experiencing repeat thefts from vehicles that can trigger alarms and bring residents to their doors. Advocates for survivors say those moments can be especially risky when shooters are still nearby.
Detectives continue to investigate the case as an aggravated assault with a firearm. Officials have not announced charges or a person of interest. Any further releases would likely come after a lab match on ballistics or a credible witness statement. If a warrant is sought, it would be filed through St. Louis County prosecutors, who decide on charges such as assault and armed criminal action. The investigative broadcast said the case remains open; the department has not scheduled a formal briefing.
On the block where the shooting occurred, residents have repainted porch railings and replaced broken windows since that night. A neighbor described hearing “pops” and then silence; another resident said they pulled a child from a front room as sirens approached. Kimbrough said he counts small milestones in recovery—walking unassisted, returning to work tasks—and wants the shooter found. “It still plays back in my head,” he said.
As of Thursday, no arrests had been announced. Police have not released additional details on the weapon, suspect description, or vehicle possibly involved, and the next update is expected if a significant lead develops.
Author note: Last updated January 29, 2026.