ST. LOUIS - On Wednesday, St. Louis jurors convicted a 26-year-old for shooting an elderly man.

Court records say the incident happened outside of a children’s daycare in the Downtown West neighborhood on March 14, 2024. Prosecutors say Daron Lontrell Nelson was driving a Hyundai next to the victim’s vehicle when a masked passenger in his car began shooting.

At the time of the incident, children were inside the daycare. 

“This shooting not only seriously injured an elderly victim but also put children in immediate danger because it happened in the street outside of a daycare during operating hours,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore.

The victim, a 62-year-old man, was taken to the hospital for a gunshot wound to his upper back. The victim’s car—blazed with gunfire—was also severely damaged.

Officials, however, were able to obtain surveillance footage, which captured the suspected car leaving the crime scene. Nelson was pulled over by law enforcement later that night and was arrested.

When detectives questioned Nelson about the alleged crime, he admitted to being the driver. The weapon believed to be used during the shooting, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, was also recovered by police.

Nelson was found guilty of first-degree assault of a special victim, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action.

Despite this shooting, the 62-year-old man survived, according to court records. 

Nelson is to be sentenced on Nov. 3, 2025. He faces at least 18 years in prison.