Husband, wife charged in interstate shooting death of 17-year-old: ‘Senseless act’

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) — A husband and wife from Texas are facing charges in connection with the death of a 17-year-old who was shot on Interstate 170 in Missouri.

Willie Herndon, 42, and his wife, Taiya Herndon, 45, were charged in connection with the shooting death of Alyssa Wilson, 17, last Wednesday.

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

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

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis said at a news conference Monday that surveillance video showed a white SUV pulling over to the shoulder on southbound I-170 just south of St. Charles Rock Road.

Investigators said Willie Herndon exited the vehicle and stood outside briefly. A gunshot was then fired and he got back into the vehicle before driving away. Investigators said Taiya Herndon was also inside the vehicle.

The car was registered to Taiya Herndon, according to police.

Officers were then called to the southbound lanes of the interstate near Midland Boulevard in Overland for a crash around 7:20 p.m. When they arrived, officers said they found Wilson shot inside the crashed car. She was taken to a 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 suspected vehicle and tracked it to a hotel in Caseyville, Illinois.

Law enforcement then arrested the couple from Arlington, Texas.

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

During Monday’s news conference, Wilson’s father, Robert Hickman, thanked law enforcement for working to secure justice. He said Wilson was 60 days from turning 18, and the family planned a vacation to a Disney theme park.

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