ST. LOUIS – A Jennings man appeared in federal court Tuesday and was sentenced for shooting at police and federal task force officers during a 2021 standoff.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Derek D. Brown, 50, was indicted in October 2021 on three counts of assault on a federal officer, three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The shooting occurred on March 18, 2021, following a domestic dispute at Brown’s stepdaughter’s home.
Brown, armed with a machete and hammer, had kicked in the door of the residence to confront his wife. Brown’s stepdaughter had retrieved a handgun to defend her home, but Brown took it away from her.
Police learned Brown already had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation.
At some point, Brown left the house and went to his sister’s residence. It was there that Brown fired through the home’s screen door at police and other officers who’d been deputized as federal task force officers.
Brown eventually surrendered to the authorities that day.
In February 2024, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a federal officer and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Brown to 23 years and 10 months in federal prison.
