Husband, wife charged after teen shot and killed on I-170

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A Texas husband and wife are facing charges in connection with the death of a 17-year-old who was shot on Interstate 170.

Willie Herndon, 42, and his wife Taiya Herndon, 45, face charges in connection with the shooting death of 17-year-old Alyssa Wilson last Wednesday.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Melissa Price-Smith said Willie Herndon faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. On the other hand, Taiya Herndon faces a charge of hindering prosecution for driving Willie Herndon to Illinois after the shooting.

Willie Herndon is being held on $1 million cash-only bail. Taiya Herndon is being held on $500,000 cash-only bail.

The Major Case Squad said in a news conference Monday that surveillance video showed a white SUV stopping on the shoulder of southbound I-170, just south of St. Charles Rock Road.

Investigators say Willie got out of the vehicle and briefly stood outside the car. A shot was then fired, he got back into his vehicle and left. Investigators say Taiya was also inside the vehicle.

Police told First Alert 4 the car was registered to Taiya.

Officers were then called to the southbound lanes of the highway, near Midland Boulevard in Overland, for a crash around 7:20 p.m. When officers arrived, they said they found Wilson shot inside the wrecked car. She was taken to hospital, where she later died.

Wilson was a senior at McCluer North High School. She was a student-athlete and office aide and planned to attend college next year, the school said.

Officials said investigators used license plate readers to identify the suspect vehicle and tracked it to a hotel in Caseyville, Illinois. Law enforcement then arrested the couple in Arlington, Texas.

Investigators found evidence in the hotel room after executing a search warrant, including the gun. Willie provided details about his involvement in the shooting, as well as information “regarding possible ongoing investigations in other areas,” officials said.

At the news conference, Wilson’s father, Robert Hickman, thanked law enforcement for working to ensure justice. He said Wilson had 60 days until he turned 18 and the family had planned a vacation to a Disney theme park.

“This was a senseless act, and we ask everyone to look inward and make sure that the next time something happens like this, you think before something happens,” Hickman said.