ST. LOUIS – A 23-year-old St. Louis man appeared in court Wednesday and admitted to a fatal shooting at a gas station in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood of north St. Louis City.
The shooting happened just after 6 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2021, at the BP gas station in the 3500 block of Natural Bridge Avenue.
Surveillance video shows the victim, Moy’e Elkins, entering the store while the accused shooter, Daevone Austin, is leaving the business. As they pass each other, Austin pulls out a gun and shoots Elkins in the back of the head. Elkins was not armed.
Elkins was rushed to Saint Louis University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 30.
After speaking with witnesses, the police were able to identify and apprehend Austin several months later. Police said Austin made numerous incriminating statements during an interview with detectives.
Austin told police he and Elkins had gotten into an argument a few months prior to the shooting.
“This was a senseless murder that could easily have been avoided,” St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said.
Prosecutors initially charged Austin with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. However, Austin agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder and armed criminal action to avoid trial.
A St. Louis Circuit Court judge sentenced Austin to 21 years for the murder and three additional years for armed criminal action. The sentences will run consecutively.