Hi my name LJ and I am asking the community to help me out to recoup funds to replace My stolen lighting equipment and some of Jerry’s sound equipment.

 

3 weeks ago I was a victim of a crime.

I brought my lighting rig out for Mom's Kitchen down at Broadway oyster bar. It was great to see old friends and humbling to go back to my roots at one of the first venues I started doing gigs at.

 

One of my best of friends, Jerry Boshert was kind enough to let me utilize his van so it was easier to load in and out of the show.

 

After the show I was driving back to shop on 64/40 west right before the overpass for kings highway I witnessed a horrible accident involving a truck crashing into the median.

I immediately pulled over and rushed to make sure the people in the mangled vehicle were ok.

 

Moments later I noticed a black truck pull up to the van I was driving and saw a person jump out and start running to it. (In the chaos that was happening I thought they were just checking up on me)

 

I quickly went back to see if the driver and passenger were capable of getting out of the wrecked vehicle without injuring themselves. (It was a dangerous area on the highway and I was worried another vehicle will crash into us)

They were ok and we started to move away from the vehicle.

 

I looked back to where I pulled over and watched my friends van drive off with all of my lighting equipment and personal stuff!!

 

I did a police report and gave a line item list of what was stolen. Giving myself hope that it will be found.

Unfortunately the insurance companies will not cover any of the items I lost .

 

I essentially lost $15,000 worth of equipment, some of it is Unreplaceable like my cherished custom built grandMA lighting console.

 

It’s been 3 weeks now and after feverishly looking on Facebook marketplaces, Craigslist, pawnshops, I don’t think it will be found.

I spent years on building that lighting/video rig and to have it taken all away in an instant is crushing.

I have been contemplating on should I start all over again and build another lighting/video rig or just call it quits. At this moment I have no way to do any gigs and it’s a heart sinking feeling.

 

For now Ive been taking it one day at a time and figuring out what steps to take to build back up.

Jerry and I are figuring out how to get a new van and what direction to go with getting new gear.

 

It takes a certain kind of criminal mindset to steal a vehicle on the highway in the scene of an accident.

 

Saint louis seems to be getting really dangerous and it is not going to get better anytime soon.

To all my friends out there in the music scene please be careful! Lock your stuff up! Even in a crisis like mine, bad people will take any advantage to steal from victims.

 

the stolen items were.

 

1 - red econoline Ford 259 van

1 - 2020 razor blade stealth 15 in laptop there’s a dent on one of the corners

1 - Canan 90D camera

1 - focusrite usb audio box

1- grand MA2 command wing

1- 42in pelican case

2- acer 21in touch screen monitors

6 - Chauvet Qspot 560 moving heads.

1 -razor blade huntsman keyboard

1 - razor blade wireless mouse

1 - apc mk 2 midi controller

1- hurricane Chauvet 2d hazer

4- light blue 24in x 12 in x 36 in road cases

1 - shure 430 in ears

Xlr cables with JBSOUND on them.

40 mic stands

 

5000.00 isn’t close to what was lost but it’s a start.

I appreciate any donations. Big or small!

 

Thank you all!!