PINE LAWN, Mo. — A St. Louis County jury on Wednesday found 20-year-old Kevin Fields guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing of Christopher Chaney back in 2021.
Chaney, 38, was shot and killed on the morning of Nov. 10, 2021, in the 3800 block of Jennings Station Road. Investigators with the North County Police Cooperative identified Fields as the suspect and he was arrested that same day. He was 17 at the time.
In May 2022, Fields was certified as an adult in the case.
According to a probable cause statement from a Vinita Park police detective, Chaney was able to identify Fields as the one who shot him before he died.
Surveillance video showed a dark Chrysler 300 speed away from the shooting, and police found a key fob to the same model car on Fields when he was arrested.
The car the fob belonged to was found nearby and matched the car seen in the video, the probable cause statement said. A gun seized during Fields' arrest also matched the shell casing found at the scene.
This was another senseless killing on streets with too many guns," St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement following the verdict. "Our prayers remain with Mr. Chaney's family."
The sentencing range for second-degree murder is 10 to 30 years in prison or life imprisonment, and the sentence for a first offense of armed criminal action can range from three to 15 years in prison. The jury recommended sentences of 15 and 3 years to be served consecutively.
Fields' sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged from the emergency department after being shot.
