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. 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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