ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A Florissant man has been charged with first-degree murder after a man delivering pizzas was shot and killed Tuesday night in north St. Louis County.
Wayea Hallowanger, 20, was charged with one count each of first-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to the St. Louis County Police Department.
At about 9:36 p.m. Tuesday, St. Louis County police officers were called to the 4600 block of Whisper Lake Drive for a report of a shooting. 5 On Your Side confirmed the victim was 60-year-old Herschell Perkins, a general manager at the Papa John's on New Halls Ferry Road in north St. Louis County. Perkins was making a delivery that night.
5 On Your Side spoke with one of Perkins' sons, Cortez Perkins.
“He was a great man," Perkins said. "He had a lot of kids, he was in everybody’s life. He was loud, special, and vibrant.”
Cortez and dozens of other family and friends gathered at the very Papa John's Herschell used to work at. They held a candlelight vigil and balloon release in the parking lot while chanting his initials, "HP."
“I’m really at a loss for words right now. We love him and miss him so much," Cortez said.
Herschell is also being missed by his Papa John's community. 5 On Your Side spoke with the St. Louis president of Papa John's, Mike Pierce Jr.
“If it needed to be done, he did it," Pierce said of Herschell. "They were talking about him cleaning his windows earlier in the week, and some of the guys were saying that they didn’t mind doing anything Herschell asked because he was willing to do whatever.”
Pierce added that Herschell's legacy is quite literally still living throughout Papa John's.
"The team loved him," he said. “He had a lot of kids and grandkids and several of them are working for us to this day. He was such a great guy.”
Cortez said now they will move forward and keep his father's name alive.
“He was so proud of us. He was a loud man, a loving man, charismatic and very funny.”
According to the release, Herschell was preparing to complete the delivery when he was shot multiple times by Hallowanger. The order was placed by Hallowanger to a vacant apartment where he was at.
Hallowanger also stated to police he changed the number of the phone from which the order was placed after the shooting.
Herschell called 911 after the incident stating he was shot and he would not survive, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hallowanger is being held without bond.
Anyone with information on the shooting should contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. To remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.
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.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to "stabilize inner-city neighborhoods." One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
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 an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership with St. Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.