Douglas Shelton-Herron, a St. Louis County man, was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for the murder of 39-year-old Lekeshia Stokes. The incident occurred in February last year in the Baden neighborhood, where Stokes was shot after a minor car accident, according to the St. Louis City Circuit Court.
Shelton-Herron, who stood trial for second-degree murder and armed criminal action, was found guilty on Sept. 26, and the sentence handed down from St. Louis Circuit Judge Bryan Hettenbach includes a 30-year term for the murder and a consecutive 10-year term for the armed action; his Jaguar vehicle was sideswiped by Stokes, and subsequently she crashed into another parked vehicle; after which, the violent encounter escalated, with Shelton-Herron firing a total of a dozen rounds from a short-barrel semiautomatic rifle, the act of violence captured on a nearby surveillance system.
The prosecutors initially sought a first-degree murder conviction, yet the jury ultimately convicted Shelton-Herron of the lesser charge, despite the grave outcome of the confrontation. The St. Louis City Circuit Court account indicates that two other men were also involved in the incident; Corey Evans, 21, and Thomas L. Shelton, 25, received 10-year prison terms each in April after they reached plea deals with the prosecution, pleading guilty to armed criminal action and voluntary manslaughter.
The courtroom was filled with emotion as Stokes' relatives expressed their deep grief over her loss. Sharniece Stokes, the victim's sister, shared the difficulty of raising the four children left behind, stating, "It's hard every day." The family's pain extends far beyond the crime itself, as they now face a future without Lekeshia. Shelton-Herron apologized to the Stokes family, expressing regret for his actions, as per the St. Louis City Circuit Court.
More information on the case can be found detailed in the official court records, with Shelton-Herron’s case numbered 2222-CR00252-01, Evans’ numbered 2222-CR00287-01, and Shelton's being 2222-CR00253-01.
