Federal Investigators Probe Herndon in Second St Louis Shooting

Federal investigators are examining whether a second highway shooting in the St. Louis area is connected to the October 14 killing of 17-year-old Alyssa Wilson, for which Texas resident Willie Herndon faces murder charges. Court documents describe similarities between shell casings recovered from the two scenes, although laboratory testing is still needed to determine whether the same firearm was used.

Herndon, 42, of Arlington, Texas, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in Missouri, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm in federal court. His wife, Taiya Herndon, faces a state charge of hindering prosecution over allegations that she helped him after the fatal shooting, according to prosecutors and court records.

The earlier incident involved a vehicle struck by gunfire after leaving Interstate 55 near Bates Avenue. Reports differ on whether that shooting occurred October 10 or October 11. No injuries were reported, and investigators are comparing evidence from that scene with material recovered during the investigation into Wilson's death.

A federal complaint states that a white SUV was seen near the earlier shooting and left immediately afterward. The complaint describes the recovered evidence: "A single cartridge case was recovered," investigators wrote. It adds that the casing bore a manufacturer's marking matching one found during the investigation into Wilson's killing.

Authorities have not announced a definitive ballistic match. The federal complaint says laboratory analysis is underway to establish whether the casings came from the same weapon.

Investigators say Wilson was driving south on Interstate 170 in Overland, Missouri, on October 14, heading to meet a friend at a Halloween event at the St. Louis Zoo. Security footage showed a white Buick Enclave stopped on the highway shoulder before a person exited and fired at her passing vehicle, according to court records.

Chief Deputy Commander Jack Abell of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis described the surveillance footage at a news conference. "A person exited the vehicle and stood outside for a short period of time," he said.

"There was a gunshot, got back in the vehicle. The vehicle turned its hazards off and continued on." Authorities said the footage and license plate information helped them trace the vehicle to a hotel in Caseyville, Illinois.

A bullet entered the rear of Wilson's vehicle and struck her in the back, exiting through her chest, according to the federal complaint. The teenager lost the ability to control the vehicle, which crashed into a concrete median barrier. Emergency responders took her to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where she was pronounced dead.

Wilson's father, Robert Hickman, spoke publicly about the loss at a news conference. "Alyssa was 17, excited about her life, excited about her future. She had 60 days until she turned 18, and we were getting ready to take our first family vacation together to go to Disney for her to see her favorite person in the world, Princess Tiana, and unfortunately, she's not going to get to do that any more. This was a senseless act," Hickman said.

Investigators have said Wilson had no known connection to either defendant and have not disclosed a motive. Authorities used surveillance footage, vehicle details and an Arkansas Razorbacks decal to identify the Buick and locate the couple at the Illinois hotel.

According to court documents, investigators found an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle in the hotel room. The ammunition was identified as 7.62x39, matching the caliber and manufacturer described in evidence recovered from the fatal shooting and the earlier highway incident.

The federal complaint also describes notebooks containing handwritten license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions and accounts of law enforcement officers whom Herndon allegedly believed were following him. Prosecutors allege the couple traveled from Texas through Arkansas to Missouri in early October and used license plates that did not belong to their vehicle.

Authorities said Willie Herndon admitted to firing a rifle from beside the vehicle on Interstate 170, while Taiya Herndon admitted to driving the Buick, according to a state criminal complaint. After police approached Taiya near the hotel vehicle, Willie emerged from the hotel area and ran before officers apprehended him.

Federal records list previous felony convictions for Willie Herndon, including taking a vehicle without consent in Los Angeles in 2001 and receiving known stolen property and burglary in 2015. Prosecutors have sought his detention while the federal case proceeds.

Taiya Herndon is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond, according to state court records. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 19, while Willie Herndon is scheduled for a federal detention hearing and a preliminary hearing on November 4, according to court documents.