OLIVETTE, Mo. — A man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that happened on a St. Louis County interstate on Monday.
The shooting left an innocent woman dead; she's been identified as 46-year-old Kristen Whitted.
The St. Louis County prosecuting attorney’s office issued charges on Calvin Pittman for first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, shooting at a vehicle and tampering with evidence. A judge set his bail at $500,000 cash-only.
"While Mr. Pittman remains innocent until proven guilty, we will seek justice in the murder of Kristen Whitted. This type of senseless violence will not be tolerated. Working with our law enforcement partners, this office will hold violent offenders accountable and prosecute these matters to the fullest extent of the law," St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said.
Kristen Whitted was found inside an SUV that was stopped on the southbound lanes of the interstate. She had suffered one gunshot wound, police said, and was alone. Nobody else was injured.
During a press conference on Friday, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis said detectives believe two cars shooting were involved in some sort of road rage incident. Chief of the Olivette Police Department, David Wolf, said a good Samaritan stepped forward with some information about a possible vehicle.
Once investigators had that information, they were able to canvass the area, he said.
Wolf said they are still looking for another vehicle in connection with the incident.
Whitted's brother, Fred Whitted, also spoke during the press conference on Friday and expressed his gratitude for those who have been working on the investigation.
"I have to say, I'm filled with a lot of mixed emotions right now. I'm definitely there's a small sigh of relief. I can there's a very small sigh of relief knowing that the person who did this to my sister is now in the hands of the authorities," he said.
He added that this is just the beginning of the investigation.
"But I will also say this to St. Louis, since this is just the beginning of the investigation, we need more evidence. We need more people to come forward. We need more video evidence. We need more people willing to stand up and say this is wrong. This is not allowed in my community. This will not happen to innocent people in our community."
Investigators said on Friday that they believe Kristen Whitted's gunshot wound came from Pittman's gun.
Whitted’s family held a news conference Thursday pleading for witnesses or anything with information to come forward.
"My sister was innocent," Fred Whitted, the victim's brother, said during the news conference. "The way she was taken from us could happen to any of us."
More than 20 investigators had been assigned to the case.
"You ripped my family apart," Fred said. "I don't know if it was gang-related or road rage, but I do know this family standing here is not going to be the same."
Anyone who may have been traveling on I-170 between Page Avenue and I-64 at approximately 3 p.m. Monday and who witnessed this incident or saw vehicles fleeing the area is asked to call police at 314-645-3000 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
Watch the Thursday's press conference with family and investigators in the video player below: