A Sunday shopping trip at the Bridgeton Target turned terrifying when police say a man sexually molested a 6-year-old girl inside the store on St. Charles Rock Road. The child reportedly ran straight to her mother after the encounter, prompting a 911 call, and officers say they detained a suspect minutes later. Investigators add that store surveillance cameras captured the interaction and that the case is now in the hands of prosecutors.
Arrest and charges
Rayshon Manuel is charged with one count of child molestation of a child less than 12 years old and one count of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy, according to First Alert 4. Court records cited by the outlet say Manuel followed the 6-year-old to a clothing rack, touched her inappropriately and pulled down her pants before she ran to her mother, who then called 911.
Surveillance video reportedly captured the encounter, and officers say they found Manuel about 10 minutes later at a nearby gas station. He was wearing the same clothes seen on camera and allegedly made statements confirming he had been inside the Target shortly before his arrest.
Where it happened
The incident occurred inside the Target at 12275 St Charles Rock Rd in Bridgeton, according to store listings. The location sits just off I-270 at St. Charles Rock Road and serves as a busy retail hub for north St. Louis County shoppers, per MapQuest.
A worrying pattern
This is at least the third reported case this year of an alleged child molestation inside a retail store in the St. Louis area, according to First Alert 4. In a separate case reported in late May, a man was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old inside a Kirkwood Walmart, as detailed by First Alert 4.
Legal note
Under Missouri law, statutory sodomy in the first degree carries significant prison terms, with higher minimum sentences when the victim is younger than 12, according to RSMo §566.062. Child molestation in the first degree is defined as an aggravated sexual offense and, when the victim is under 12, the statute allows for a sentence without eligibility for probation, parole or conditional release, per RSMo §566.067.
What happens next
Manuel remains held at the St. Louis County Justice Center on a $200,000 cash-only bond, and the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors will continue reviewing the case as it moves toward arraignment and any further filings.
