An 18-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection to a fatal shooting and carjacking incident in St. Louis. The unidentified teen suspect, also linked to the carjacking of two elderly women, was already in police custody after leading officers on a chase in the stolen vehicle, according to an update from the St. Louis Police Department.
The events unfolded on March 2, when District 4 officers responded to a carjacking on the 3900 block of N. 19th Street. Two women, ages 63 and 75, reported being robbed at gunpoint. The 63-year-old victim said she was forced to hand over her Honda Element, while the 75-year-old was made to quickly exit her Chevrolet Equinox by a group of five unknown males. "Fearing for her life, she complied," the police statement noted about each woman, and both stated they were not physically harmed during the confrontations, as per the St. Louis Police Department.
Police later found the Chevrolet Equinox parked at the intersection of Winnebago and Minnesota. Inside, an 18-year-old male was discovered in the back seat, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. This discovery prompted a homicide investigation. While details are still emerging, the tragedy that befell both the young man and the shaken carjacking victims continues to underline the city's struggle with violent crime.
The pursuit of the Honda Element occurred later that evening. Officers spotted and attempted to apprehend the car near Jefferson and Cherokee. The occupants led officers on a chase until the Element became disabled at W. Florissant and Taylor. Two suspects, an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old male, were arrested after a brief foot chase with police also recovering two handguns from the scene. "After a brief foot pursuit, officers arrested an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old male," the police recounted from the hectic evening, as detailed by the St. Louis Police Department.
The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Homicide Division, and additional information may be forthcoming as detectives piece together the sequence of events that led to the young man's untimely death. The police have not released details regarding the potential involvement of the second suspect in custody or the other individuals involved in the initial carjacking. Community members with any information related to the case are urged to contact the authorities.
