A 19-year-old was charged Tuesday in connection with the Monday evening robbery of Sheena Greitens, the wife of Governor-elect Eric Greitens.
Around 6:15 p.m. Monday, Greitens and his wife had left a restaurant in the 3900 block of W. Pine. Sheena was sitting inside of her car in a parking lot looking at her cell phone when her car door was abruptly opened by a suspect.
The suspect pointed a gun at Sheena and demanded she hand over her cell phone and laptop.
Sheena complied, and later told officers several other suspects ran away from the scene after handing over her electronics.
Officers said another victim in the same parking lot had his cell phone stolen. With the assistance of officers, the cell phone was tracked to the 4200 block of Shreve. Police located the vehicle suspected of targeting the future First Lady of Missouri, and three black males fled the scene on foot.
Officers arrested the three suspects accused of robbing Sheena. Of the three suspects arrested were a 14-year-old, a 15-year-old, and a 19-year-old.
Police recovered the cell phone's and laptops stolen by the three suspects.
On Tuesday, 19-year-old Marquay Beard, of St. Louis, was charged with one count of tampering with a motor vehicle in connection with the incident. The charging documents also said the vehicle in which the suspects were found was determined to be stolen.
In a statement released by the Governor-elect, Greitens said his wife was safe, but shaken.
Full press conference held by Eric and Sheena Greitens on Tuesday morning:
Read the full statement from the Governor-elect below:
Statement from Eric Greitens:
Tonight, my wife Sheena, the mother of my two boys, and the future First Lady of Missouri was robbed at gunpoint not far from our home.
She is safe—but shaken. We are grateful for the men and women of law enforcement. Their response was swift and skilled, and we thank God for their presence tonight.
I have spoken in the past about the importance of public safety. About the need to take care of the men and women of law enforcement who have our backs. About the danger too many Missourians feel walking in their neighborhoods at night, or taking their kids to school, or going to the grocery store.
If tonight's incident has done anything, it has only served to strengthen my—and our family's—resolve. We are, now more than ever, committed to the law enforcement officials who were by Sheena's side within minutes. We are, now more than ever, disturbed by the violence and chaos in our communities. And we are, now more than ever, focused on the mission of creating safer neighborhoods for all of our families and all of our children.
We are also thankful tonight: for God's grace, for our brave men and women in law enforcement, for the safety of our family, and for the prayers of so many of you. God bless all Missourians, and those who keep us safe.
