Texas Couple Charged in Fatal Freeway Shooting of Missouri Teenager
A Texas couple faces charges in the tragic highway shooting of a 17-year-old girl traveling to a St. Louis zoo event. Get the latest on this investigation.
POLICY WIRE — St. Louis, Missouri — A Texas couple has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old girl on a Missouri freeway as she traveled to a Halloween event at the St. Louis Zoo.
Willie Herndon, 42, faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. His wife, Taiya Herndon, has been charged with hindering prosecution for allegedly transporting her husband to an Illinois hotel following the incident.
The victim, Alyssa Wilson, was driving south on Interstate 170 in Overland, Missouri, around 7 p.m. last Wednesday when the shooting occurred. Chief Deputy Commander Jack Abell of the Major Case Squad stated that surveillance footage captured a white Buick Enclave stopped on the shoulder before a single gunshot was fired into the victim’s vehicle.
Alyssa was transported to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her father, Robert Hickman, described his daughter as a young woman full of optimism who was just 60 days away from her 18th birthday.
Investigators utilized security footage and automated license plate readers to track the suspects to a hotel in Caseyville, Illinois. The couple was taken into custody on Friday, and a subsequent search of the premises yielded a firearm and additional evidence.
Authorities noted that the suspects had no prior connection to the victim. While Willie Herndon provided details regarding his involvement during questioning, officials stated that a motive remains under investigation as they look into potential links to other criminal cases.
Bail has been set at $1 million for Willie Herndon and $500,000 for Taiya Herndon. Both remain in custody as they await extradition to Missouri.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
