East St. Louis guy here, too. Cahokia public schools from Kindergarten to 7th grade. I've been desensitized to explosive and sudden violence since childhood.
I'm with you there. East St. Louis from birth to enlistment. The sound of gunshots means "don't go near the window". A huge things in East St. Louis was car jacking when someone stopped for an active railroad signal. To this very day I will not sit waiting on a train.