Crime
Nykelte Wilburn Charged With Murder in Damonte Hightower Shooting Death
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A 17-year-old has died following a shooting in north St. Louis County that stemmed from a verbal altercation late Friday night.
Authorities have identified the victim as Damonte Hightower.
According to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, 23-year-old Nykelte Wilburn has been charged in connection with the killing.
The incident occurred on August 29, 2025, at approximately 10:37 p.m. in the 11000 block of Larimore Road, when police were alerted to gunfire through the city’s ShotSpotter system.
A probable cause statement indicates that surveillance footage captured the confrontation, showing Hightower and Wilburn engaged in a brief verbal exchange before shots were fired.
Witnesses rushed Hightower to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:17 a.m. on August 30.
Investigators said Wilburn was identified both by multiple witnesses and from video evidence linking him to the shooting.
Wilburn is now facing multiple charges, including:
- Murder in the Second Degree
- Two counts of Armed Criminal Action
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Subsection 9 (Discharging from a Motor Vehicle)
- Failure to Report a Shooting
He is currently being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
The investigation remains active, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department.
Our thoughts are with Damonte Hightower’s family and loved ones as they grieve this devastating loss.
Crime
Woman Fatally Struck by Semi-Truck on Birmingham Interstate Exit Ramp Identified as Shontea Baker
Authorities have identified the woman who was killed earlier this week after being struck by a semi-truck on an interstate exit ramp in Birmingham.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed on Friday that the victim was Shontea Renee Baker, 40, a Birmingham resident.
The fatal incident occurred at approximately 10:26 a.m. Wednesday on the Arkadelphia Road exit ramp from Interstate 59/20.
Emergency responders pronounced Baker deceased at the scene at 10:42 a.m.
At this time, no further details regarding the circumstances of the crash have been released.
The Birmingham Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident.