FLORISSANT, Mo. — A teen in the driver's seat of a stolen vehicle was shot in the head by an adult accomplice during a shootout with a Florissant resident early Sunday morning, leaving the teen in critical condition, according to the Florissant Police Department.
Martrevion Eskridge, 19, and three teens drove to Shawnee Lane in Florissant in a stolen car at about 4 a.m. Sunday and began checking door handles, the statement from police said.
One of the teenagers left the car and was checking car doors near a car occupied by its owner, the Florissant resident. The resident noticed the teen approaching their car with a handgun—that's when a confrontation began, police said.
"Gunfire was exchanged," the police statement said. "During the exchange, Eskridge exited the vehicle he and the juveniles arrived in and attempted to shoot at the car owner. However, he shot through the back window of his own vehicle, striking his accomplice, who was seated in the driver's seat, in the head."
After the gunfire, Eskridge and the trio of teens tried to escape the area in the stolen car but crashed into a parked car.
"They then fled the scene on foot and eventually stole another nearby vehicle to escape," police said. "A thorough and diligent investigation led to the apprehension of Eskridge and all the juveniles involved."
The injured teen was found in a St. Louis-area hospital.
"Eskridge is currently being held at the St. Louis County Jail on a $750,000 bond, while the two other juveniles were taken into juvenile detention, where they are being held," police said.
Police did not say which party opened fire first and did not share the specific ages of the teen suspects.
The St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued charges against Eskridge, a resident of Ferguson, hours after the arrest.
Eskridge faces the following seven charges:
- Count 1: First-degree assault, a class B felony, for shooting at the resident
- Count 2: Armed criminal action, a class U felony, for using a deadly weapon while committing the assault
- Count 3: Shooting at or from a car, a class B felony, for shooting at a car
- Count 4: Armed criminal action, a class U felony, for unlawful use of a deadly weapon
- Count 5: Stealing a motor vehicle, a class D felony, for stealing a vehicle
- Count 6: Armed criminal action, a class U felony, for having a weapon while stealing a vehicle
- Count 7: Second-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, a class A misdemeanor, for unlawfully riding in a stolen vehicle.
