Authorities are investigating Willie Herndon, a 42-year-old from Arlington, Texas, for a second roadway shooting in connection with the recent killing of 17-year-old Alyssa Wilson in St. Louis. The investigation reveals that the shell casing found at the scene of Alyssa’s shooting matches one recovered from an earlier incident involving another vehicle.
On October 14, while driving to a Halloween event at the St. Louis Zoo, Alyssa was fatally shot from a passing vehicle. Just three days before, another vehicle was struck by gunfire on a nearby freeway, according to federal court documents. Security footage from the earlier incident shows a white SUV parked on the roadside just before the shooting, which fled the scene immediately afterward.
In the complaint filed in U.S. District Court, it is noted that a cartridge case from the earlier incident bears the same headstamp as the one found in Alyssa’s murder case. Investigators are currently conducting ballistic tests to confirm if the two shootings are linked.
Herndon is facing serious charges, including first-degree murder in connection with Alyssa’s death. His legal troubles are compounded by a federal charge related to being a felon in possession of a firearm, stemming from previous felony convictions. His wife, Taiya Herndon, is also implicated, having allegedly assisted him in fleeing to a hotel shortly after the shooting.
As authorities piece together the events leading up to the tragic loss of Alyssa, who was described by her father as a vibrant young woman excited about her future, the community mourns a life cut short by senseless violence. The Herndons are scheduled for various court hearings in the coming weeks, with implications of their past behavior raising concerns about the broader issue of gun violence in the area.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy Patrick Hickman via KSDK
