An Arlington, Texas couple has been charged in connection with the fatal freeway shooting of a 17-year-old Missouri girl who was on her way to a Halloween event at the St. Louis Zoo last week.
Willie Herndon, 42, faces first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges filed by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the death of Alyssa Wilson. His wife, Taiya Herndon, is charged with hindering prosecution for allegedly driving him to an Illinois hotel shortly after the shooting.
The attack occurred around 7 p.m. on a Wednesday as Alyssa drove south on Interstate 170 in Overland, Missouri, heading to the zoo’s annual “Boo at the Zoo” Halloween celebration. Surveillance footage captured a person stepping out of a white Buick Enclave stopped on the highway shoulder, firing a single shot and then returning to the vehicle.
The bullet pierced the rear of Alyssa’s red Buick Encore. First responders found her with a gunshot wound after her car crashed and she was transported to Barnes-Jewish Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators used surveillance footage and automated license plate readers to track the out-of-state registered vehicle to a hotel in Caseyville, Illinois, roughly 12 miles from St. Louis. After monitoring the location for several hours, authorities arrested the couple on Friday.
A court-approved search of the Illinois hotel room produced a firearm and additional supporting evidence. A shell casing recovered from the freeway shoulder is currently being analyzed.
During questioning Willie Herndon provided details about his role in the shooting and also offered information potentially linking him to other active investigations in different jurisdictions according to Major Case Squad Chief Deputy Commander Jack Abell.
Bail was set at $1 million for Willie Herndon and $500,000 for Taiya Herndon. Both are being held pending extradition to Missouri.
Authorities confirmed the Herndons had no known connection to Alyssa and no motive has been publicly disclosed as related investigations remain ongoing.
Alyssa’s father Robert Hickman spoke emotionally at a Monday news conference describing his daughter as full of life and anticipation for her future. He said the family had been planning a trip to Disney World for her upcoming 18th birthday which was just 60 days away.
“This was a senseless act” Hickman said through tears.
The case was cracked within 36 hours through a joint effort involving the FBI, ATF and multiple regional law enforcement agencies according to FBI St. Louis Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dave Herr.