Armed robber charged with murder after victim kills cohort
ST. LOUIS – An attempted armed robbery backfired after the intended target fought back and killed one of his assailants. Now, the surviving suspect is being charged with his cohort’s death.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s probable cause statement, the incident took place a little after 7:15 a.m. on the 4900 block of San Francisco Avenue in the city’s Penrose neighborhood.
Police said when intended the victim arrived home, two men came out of a vacant property and announced a robbery. Both suspects were armed.
The would-be victim took out his own firearm and shot at the robbers, striking and killing one of them. The other robber fled.
Police used cell phone data to place the fleeing robber near the scene of the crime.
Police arrested Kelvin W. Williams, 39, for the robbery and shooting death. Police said Williams admitted he and the deceased suspect intended to rob the victim.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Williams with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of first-degree attempted robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
