A routine stop at a Breckenridge Hills gas station turned into a crime scene on April 7, when police say a local woman opened fire and shot two people outside the Phillips 66 at 9653 St. Charles Rock Road. Officers report finding shell casings near her car and a handgun tucked in the vehicle's glove box, and prosecutors say both victims were struck in the station's parking lot. The suspect, identified as Aveanna Adams, is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond, according to charging documents.
What police say
Breckenridge Hills officers responded to calls of gunfire and found two people wounded in the parking lot, then arrested Adams at the scene and later recovered a weapon from the car, according to KSDK. Prosecutors have charged her with two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action, the outlet reports. Police also told investigators that Adams admitted she fired the weapon after she had been read her Miranda rights, according to the same report.
Nearby pattern of gas-station shootings
This latest Breckenridge Hills shooting slots into a troubling pattern at area gas stations. Earlier this month, one deadly attack at a Phillips 66 in Soulard drew fresh attention to security at around-the-clock stops. Data compiled by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shows gas stations and convenience stores have become recurring backdrops in recent area shootings, stirring ongoing debate over patrol coverage and late-night safety measures.
Investigation ongoing
Investigators have not publicly discussed a motive and have not said whether Adams knew the two people who were shot, according to KSDK. Detectives are combing through surveillance video and witness statements as the case moves through the prosecutor's office, and officials say additional charges or formal court dates could be announced as the investigation continues.
