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
24-Year-Old Jose Alfredo Soto Navarrete Jr Dies in Fatal Jeep Incident in Midland, Christian Rojelio Zubia Arrested
MIDLAND, Texas — Jose Alfredo Soto Navarrete Jr., a 24-year-old man from Odessa, died after an incident involving a Jeep Wrangler in Midland on Thursday night, October 8, 2026. The driver, a 30-year-old Odessa man, was later arrested and charged with manslaughter, according to the Midland Police Department.
Police said officers responded at approximately 10:46 p.m. Thursday to a reported crash involving a 2018 Jeep Wrangler and a pedestrian in the 1700 block of Rankin Highway.
During the preliminary investigation, witnesses told authorities that Soto Navarrete had jumped onto the hood of a black Jeep Wrangler. Investigators allege that the driver accelerated while turning southbound, causing Soto Navarrete to fall from the vehicle and sustain fatal injuries.
Authorities identified the driver as Christian Rojelio Zubia, 30, of Odessa.
According to police, Zubia left the scene after the incident. Officers later located him with assistance from the Odessa Police Department.
Zubia was arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with Soto Navarrete’s death. The charge is an allegation, and the case will proceed through the legal system.
The Midland Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident, including the events leading up to Soto Navarrete’s fall from the Jeep.
Authorities have not released further details about what prompted the encounter or whether additional charges may be considered.
Police confirmed that Soto Navarrete’s next of kin has been notified of his death.
Soto Navarrete’s death has left his family and loved ones grieving. His passing serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly a dangerous incident can result in a fatal outcome.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information may be released as authorities continue reviewing the case.