A St. Louis man, Torrey Holliday, says he was evicted from his St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) apartment after a shooting in his building’s lobby that he describes as self-defense. According to Fox 2 in St. Louis, Holliday was not charged with any criminal offense in connection with the incident.
Holliday’s account and what the video reportedly shows
Holliday says lobby CCTV video shows he was not the aggressor and that he was backing away from a person trying to take his gun. “I’m on the video steady back and back,” Holliday said, per the report. He added, “Good thing I did have my weapon on me or else I wouldn’t be here to talk about none of this.” The report described visible bullet holes in the lobby.
The report also cited court records indicating the apartment surveillance video corroborates Holliday’s account.
The eviction letter and ‘criminal activity’ allegation
The source report includes a quoted excerpt from a lease termination letter stating: “You, member(s) of your household, and/or your guests engaged in criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or the right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by residents and employees in violation of your lease. Details: Security camera on August 26, 2026 shows you in a verbal altercation and then pulling out a gun, firing it multiple times inside the lobby of Euclid Plaza, and shooting someone.”
Holliday does not dispute that he fired his gun in the lobby but questions being evicted for “criminal activity” when, according to Fox 2, he was not charged. He also said the person he shot was charged and banned from the property: “They charged him… he’s on a ban list. He’s not even supposed to be here,” Holliday said, per the report.
Housing authority response
Fox 2 reported that the St. Louis Housing Authority said in a statement that its “administrative lease enforcement process is separate from any law enforcement investigation,” adding that Holliday may respond “in accordance with established policies and procedures.”
Guns, policy, and signage
Holliday says he was told there is an anti-gun policy at the property, but he claims staff knew he was armed and did not object. He pointed to lobby signs prohibiting smoking and loitering but said there were no postings about weapons, according to the report.
