ST. LOUIS, MO (July 08, 2024) — Myah Blankinship, 22, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child for shooting her co-worker at a Family Dollar store in the 2700 block of North Florissant Avenue in the City's Old North neighborhood on September 26, 2023.

Blankinship and co-worker Mikita Williams, 30, had been involved in an ongoing personal conflict. On the day of the shooting, a verbal argument turned into a physical altercation, and punches were exchanged. As Williams was leaving the store, Blankinship pulled a handgun from her purse and shot Williams in the head, fracturing her jaw. Williams' young son and nephew were standing next to her when she was shot. The incident was captured on video.

"The consequences of a petty feud, inflamed by the presence of a gun, could have been disastrous," said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. "Given the extremely tight quarters where the shooting occurred, the victim and her relatives are lucky to be alive."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorneys Grant Simon and Michael Ware.

Blankinship faces a range of punishment for the assault charge of 10-30 years in prison or life with the possibility of parole. She faces a consecutive sentence of up to 15 years in prison for armed criminal action and up to a year in jail on each of the child endangerment charges. Sentencing is set for September 6, 2024. 

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