A Texas husband and wife are facing criminal charges following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old girl who was driving to a Halloween celebration at the St Louis zoo when gunfire struck her vehicle on a Missouri highway.
St Louis county prosecutor Melissa Price Smith announced on Monday that Willie Herndon, 43, has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of Alyssa Wilson. His wife, 45-year-old Taiya Herndon, is also facing a charge of hindering prosecution.
The charges follow an investigation into the deadly 14 October shooting along Interstate 170 in Overland, Missouri, a community north-west of St Louis.
Wilson was traveling southbound at about 7pm, heading to meet a friend for the zoo’s Halloween festivities, known as Boo at the Zoo, when the shooting occurred.
Court documents reveal that at least one bullet was fired into the back of the teenager’s vehicle.
The gunfire left Wilson “incapacitated,” according to court records, and her vehicle subsequently slammed into a concrete median barrier. Emergency responders transported the teenager to the Barnes-Jewish hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators say security footage captured crucial details that helped authorities identify the suspects.
Jack Abell, chief deputy commander of the region’s major case squad, said during a news conference that Wilson had just driven past a white Buick Enclave parked along the highway shoulder when a single gunshot could be heard.
“A person exited the vehicle and stood outside for a short period of time,” he said. “There was a gunshot, got back in the vehicle. The vehicle turned its hazards off and continued on.”
Authorities used surveillance footage and automated license plate readers to trace the Buick, which carried an out-of-state registration, which ultimately led authorities to the Texas couple.
During Monday’s press conference, Wilson’s father, Robert Hickman, spoke about the devastating loss of his daughter and the future she will never get to experience.
“Alyssa was 17, excited about her life, excited about her future,” he said. “She had 60 days until she turned 18, and we were getting ready to take our first family vacation together to go to Disney for her to see her favorite person in the world, Princess Tiana, and unfortunately, she’s not going to get to do that any more. This was a senseless act.”
Investigators did not disclose what may have prompted the deadly encounter. Abell confirmed that Wilson had no relationship with either of the accused individuals.
Willie Herndon now faces first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges, while Taiya Herndon has been charged with hindering prosecution in connection with the teenager’s death.
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