A custody exchange on a South City block next to Gravois Park turned violent on July 7 when prosecutors say a 27-year-old woman pulled a gun and opened fire on another woman with a child already in the car. Investigators identified the suspect as Ron'neva E. Houston. Police arrested her a couple of weeks after the shooting, and she now faces felony charges.
Charges Filed
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office has charged Ron'neva E. Houston, 27, with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in connection with the July 7 incident, according to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. The case is filed in the 22nd Judicial Circuit, which handles prosecution of violent felonies in the city.
Gravois Park Context
Gravois Park and nearby south-city neighborhoods have recorded multiple shooting incidents this year, according to St. Louis Police Department CompStat reporting. Neighborhood tallies for shooting incidents and victims highlight ongoing public-safety concerns in parts of south St. Louis, and the department’s weekly CompStat reports track those patterns over time, per SLMPD.
Prosecutors' Account and Arrest
A probable-cause statement summarized by FOX 2 says the victim and Houston met on Miami Street next to the park for a custody exchange. An argument broke out after the child was placed in the car. Prosecutors allege Houston "took out a gun and fired at the victim several times," according to the report. Houston was arrested weeks after the shooting, and police said she was in possession of a pistol at the time of her arrest.
What Comes Next
With first-degree assault and armed criminal action on the docket, Houston faces felony prosecution in the 22nd Judicial Circuit and will appear before a judge to answer the charges, according to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. If proven, those counts are serious felony offenses under Missouri law and carry the possibility of prison time. The case will move forward through arraignment and any subsequent hearings.
