A Halloween night that should have been about plastic pumpkins and sugar highs turned into a nightmare in north St. Louis County, where a 29-year-old man is now accused of firing into a car holding a mother and her children and critically wounding the woman. After a months-long manhunt, authorities arrested a suspect, and the case has become another flashpoint in local fears about reckless gunfire near family events. The victim survived and is still recovering, according to local reporting.
Prosecutors have identified the suspect as Lavert Leatrice Lake and say they have filed 15 felony counts against him, including multiple counts of armed criminal action and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to FOX 2. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith told investigators the shooting took place on a street where children were out trick-or-treating, a detail prosecutors said they factored into the charging decision.
The woman who was shot, Kristal Eddins, survived after officers with the North County Police Cooperative resuscitated her at the scene. She later told reporters that surgeons determined some bullets would remain in her body because trying to remove them could cause more harm, according to AOL. Eddins said the shooter confronted her about where she had parked before opening fire, and surveillance video reviewed by investigators reportedly shows multiple shots being fired while children were nearby.
Manhunt Ends With U.S. Marshals Moving In
Law enforcement officials say the U.S. Marshals Service helped track down and capture Lake after an extended search, and prosecutors noted he was on probation at the time of the Halloween shooting, according to FOX 2. Charging documents reportedly allege Lake has three prior gun-related felony convictions, and one of the new counts accuses him of continuing to possess a firearm after a felony conviction.
What Happens Next In Court
Lake now faces arraignment and pretrial proceedings in St. Louis County, where prosecutors have lodged charges that could bring significant prison time if he is convicted. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is expected to guide the case through grand jury review and onto the trial calendar.
Community Rallies Around Survivor
Neighbors and relatives have described the shooting as senseless, a violent eruption that tore through what was supposed to be a kids-first holiday. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Eddins cover medical expenses and her long recovery, according to AOL. Police say video from the scene has been released only now that the suspect is in custody, and they are asking anyone with additional information to contact the North County Police Cooperative.
.jpg){kind=link}