An 18-year-old man in St. Louis was accused of fatally shooting a 19-year-old man after an apparent drug deal that went wrong. The accused teen is being held without bond for criminal charges that include first-degree murder, first and second-degree assault and two counts of robbery. He was also charged for attempted robbery and six counts of armed criminal action.
After receiving a report about a shooting, police officers went to a vacant house on Vermont. When the authorities arrived, they discovered that a 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man had both been shot in their necks and chests. Both of the injured men were then transported to the hospital. Medical personnel pronounced the 19-year-old dead, and the 21-year-old was listed in stable condition.
At the scene, police also found a second 19-year-old man who had not received any injuries. He reportedly told police that he had gone to the vacant house with the two other men for a drug transaction. According to his statements, the drug deal had then turned into a robbery. It was not clear what types of drugs were involved.
A person accused of a crime could find it beneficial to consult with a criminal defense attorney to discuss the details of their case. An attorney may be able to raise doubts regarding proper police protocol or about the legality of the techniques used by officers to obtain evidence. However, if the prosecution’s evidence against the defendant seems strong or if the defendant would want to avoid a conviction at a jury trial, an attorney could help negotiate a plea agreement that results in reduced or dismissed charges.
Source: KSDK, “Teen charged with first-degree murder”, Brandie Piper, July 29, 2014