ST. LOUIS, MO (September 26, 2024) — Douglas Shelton-Herron. 27, was found guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal in the fatal shooting of Lekeisha Stokes, 39, in the 8500 block of Church Street in the city’s Baden neighborhood on February 11, 2022.

Shelton-Herron and four friends had been smoking marijuana in his Jaguar parked in front a home on Church Street shortly after midnight on the night of the shooting. Stokes had dropped off a friend and was returning home from a karaoke event. She drove her Kia through an intersection, weaved, sideswiped Shelton-Herron’s car and crashed into a car parked in front of the Jaguar.

Shelton-Herron immediately jumped out of the Jaguar and fired 12 shots at the Kia with an assault weapon. Two other companions fired shots at the Kia with 9 mm handguns while running away. A witness who had been a passenger in Shelton-Herron’s car told police that Stokes yelled “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Don’t shoot!” after hitting the Jaguar. Stokes sustained multiple gunshots. The entire incident was captured on police surveillance cameras.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Circuit Attorney Gordon Ankney, a partner at the law firm of Thompson Coburn LLP, and Assistant Circuit Attorney Katherine Ware-Russek.

“A group of high, trigger-happy young men brought an innocent woman’s life to a senseless end,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “It is a mistake they will have many years to reckon with behind bars.”  

Shelton-Herron will be sentenced at a later date by 22nd Circuit Court Judge Bryan L. Hettenbach.

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