In a tragic turn of events in St. Peters, Missouri, an 18-year-old teenager and an underage adolescent have been accused of a gruesome killing that transpired after an alleged home altercation. Jackson Pierce is alleged to have fired a gun at Dalton Coleman, the victim, 14 times "until the gun was empty," as reported in a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime.
The incident, which police claim took place at Pierce's residence, was followed by the suspects attempting to hide the dead body within an air mattress. According to the St. Peters Police, statements suggest the conflict erupted on Monday when Coleman was apparently exhibiting "erratic behavior" and was looking for unspecified possessions. During the confrontation, Pierce shot Coleman after fearing the victim was reaching for a firearm located on a bedside table. "Pierce stated that he continued to fire, 14 times until the gun was empty, and victim 1 did not fall to the ground until the last shot was fired," the affidavit read.
After the fatal shooting, Pierce and the minor are said to have attempted to clean the carpet with towels and dish soap before hiding the body. A witness who lives in the home with Pierce described leaving the house prior to the incident, having told Pierce "to collect items of value, including a firearm which was kept in a cabinet above the microwave in the kitchen, and store them in his room,” according to the detailed information released by the police. This same witness, upon learning of the altercation, urged Pierce to alert the authorities, a request Pierce declined, prompting the witness to contact a lawyer who in turn notified the police.
Law officials, including the St. Charles County SWAT Unit, encircled and eventually coaxed Pierce and the juvenile to exit the home, leading to their apprehension. After procuring a search warrant, investigators found the rolled-up air mattress concealed in an upstairs closet. Inside authorities “located a rolled-up air mattress that had been tied tightly and wrapped with a piece of an electrical cord," declared a report from Fox San Antonio. The discovery also included the recovery of the firearm used in the killing and several shell casings.
The specifics of the altercation remain under police investigation, and both individuals face charges related to the death and subsequent efforts to conceal the crime. This tragic case remains unfolding as local authorities work to piece together the events that led to this violent end of a young man's life.
