ST. LOUIS, MO (May 1, 2025) — Demesha Coleman, 37, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Thursday after being found guilty on March 14, 2024 of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in connection with a fatal shooting at the Speedie gas station in the 8000 block of North Broadway on December 21, 2022. The incident occurred when Coleman, in an attempt to reclaim her stolen vehicle, engaged in a shootout that resulted in two deaths and one injury.

Earlier that night, Coleman’s Hyundai SUV was stolen from her St. Louis County home. After tracking the vehicle using GPS, she contacted St. Louis County 911 twice but chose to pursue the car on her own. Accompanied by her 19-year-old son, Coleman followed the stolen vehicle to the gas station, where they met a third armed man.

At the gas station, Coleman and the third man approached the Hyundai, occupied by four people, and opened fire. A gun battle ensued, killing Darius Jackson, 19, who was a passenger in the stolen car, and Joseph Farrar, 49, an innocent bystander.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorneys Terrence O’Toole Jr., Bret Rich, and Ryan Dowd.

“This case is a tragic reminder that taking the law into your own hands can have devastating consequences. We understand the frustration victims feel when their property is stolen, but violence is never the answer,” said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Coleman’s actions and the lives lost and damaged as a result.”

Coleman’s case number is 2222-CR01944-01.

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