FERGUSON, Mo. – A man allegedly shot and killed a woman inside the same car as him after an argument escalated over food thrown at him, authorities say.
A spokesperson with the Ferguson Police Department tells FOX 2 that the victim was fatally shot around 1 a.m. Thursday near West Florissant Avenue and I-270 as a group of five was driving through Ferguson.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Damonte Williams, 18, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action amid the investigation.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, five people – including Williams and the victim – were riding in a car overnight and picked up a fast-food order from an undisclosed restaurant. At some point, Williams and the victim began arguing over the victim reportedly “throwing food” at him.
Per court documents, Williams made remarks of “if you throw something again I will shoot you,” and the victim then asserted that she would shoot him. Moments later, Williams allegedly fired one shot at the victim inside the car.
After the victim was shot, a family member who was also inside the car contacted police. The driver of the car drove to a hospital rather than waiting for officers. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
A Ferguson police spokesperson tells FOX 2 that all five people in the car were known to each other and it appeared the group was on the way to a different destination outside of Ferguson city limits before the victim was shot.
Authorities served a warrant for Williams’ arrest on Friday, according to online Missouri court records. He was booked into jail in St. Louis County on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
