ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis County man admitted as part of a plea deal Monday to dealing fentanyl and fatally shooting a 16-year-old in the lobby of a Washington Avenue loft building last year.
John Whitney Jr. 21, of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possessing a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
As part of his plea, Whitney admitted that he sold fentanyl twice to someone who was undercover for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and authorities carrying out a search warrant on his apartment found drugs and guns. According to prosecutors, Whitney had a Glock pistol with a conversion device that made it fully automatic, three AR-15-style rifles, a semi-automatic pistol, raw fentanyl in a plastic bag and fentanyl capsules.
Whitney also admitted to shooting 16-year-old Terrion Smith on March 11, 2022.
Whitney admitted he'd been selling drugs outside the lofts, located at 1520 Washington Avenue in the city's Downtown West neighborhood. After entering the lobby and heading toward the elevators he encountered Smith.
Whitney claimed Smith drew his gun first and he acted in self-defense. Surveillance video showed Whitney and the teen drawing their guns at the same time, with Whitney opening fire with his fully automatic pistol as the teen turned toward him with his pistol raised.
Whitney and another person who was with the teen then exchanged gunfire before they both ran from the building.
Whitney's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 13. His fentanyl distribution charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, and the firearm charge is punishable by between 5 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
