A man has been convicted in the shooting death of a woman following a minor traffic incident last year. Douglas Shelton-Herron, aged 27, faced charges for the 2022 killing of 39-year-old Lekeisha Stokes. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on second-degree murder and armed criminal action, resulting in a 40-year prison term—30 years for the murder charge and a consecutive 10 years for armed criminal action.
The tragic event that led to Stokes's death unfolded in the Baden neighborhood, according to court documents. Stokes, after attending a karaoke event, accidentally sideswiped Shelton-Herron’s Jaguar. The collision occurred when Stokes, driving a Kia, lost control at an intersection and clipped his vehicle, which was parked at the 8500 block of Church Street. Shelton-Herron, incensed by the accident, responded by discharging an assault weapon 12 times into Stokes's car. As mentioned on the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office website, she pleaded for her life, shouting, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Don't shoot!" as detailed by a passenger from Shelton-Herron's own vehicle—a detail underscored by police surveillance footage capturing the horrific moment.
The severity of the sentence is indicative of the prosecutor's commitment to justice for victims of violent crimes. In a statement reported by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, the message was apparent: "This sentence sends a clear message that the Circuit Attorney’s Office will pursue justice vigorously for victims of violent crimes." They also expressed their condolences to Stokes' family, mentioning, "We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim, and we hope this verdict brings them some measure of closure."
Special Assistant Circuit Attorney Gordon Ankney of Thompson Coburn LLP and Assistant Circuit Attorney Katherine Ware-Russek conducted the prosecution's case.
