ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis rapper was acquitted Thursday of charges related to a deadly 2022 road rage shooting.
According to a news release from the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, a jury acquitted 19-year-old Michael Henderson on all charges in connection with the shooting death of Joseph R. Shaw on Aug. 26, 2022. He was facing charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
Police said they responded to a call for a shooting at about 2:15 p.m. in the 4800 block of Nebraska Avenue. A man who was injured in the shooting was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime. According to the release, surveillance video showed Henderson riding his motorbike next to Shaw's Jeep before speeding ahead, turning and opening fire.
Shaw was shot in the head and killed instantly. Both vehicles crashed, and Henderson ran away before police arrived.
In court, Henderson testified that the shooting was in self-defense. He said he clipped the Jeep in traffic, and when he looked in the car, he saw Shaw pointing a gun at him.
“I sped off, and he shot at me,” Henderson said. “I was just doing what I felt that I had to do to protect myself.”
According to the release, defense lawyer Terry Niehoff said a gun was found in the Jeep and had eight spent cartridges.
Prosecutors argued that Henderson was playing a game of chicken with Shaw and "was not scared in that moment."
“The defendant was mad, and he wasn’t going to back down,” Assistant Circuit Attorney Kerri Davis told jurors.
After two hours of deliberations, the jury sided with the defense, acquitting Henderson on all counts.
Henderson’s rap name is CTS Luh Wick. Social media pages under that name feature multiple music videos that show Henderson flashing guns and cash.
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.
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