ST. LOUIS COUNTY – St. Louis County prosecutors have charged two St. Louis men with first-degree murder and other felonies in the April 19 fatal shooting of a man closing his food truck in St. Louis County, authorities said Thursday.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said charges were issued May 21, 2026, against Daion Heartfield, 25, of the 1800 block of Exuma Drive in St. Louis, and Todd Weems, 32, of the 4200 block of Chippewa Street in St. Louis. Each is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of first-degree assault or attempt involving serious physical injury or a special victim. Both are being held without bond.
According to probable cause statements, the victim was shot multiple times on April 19, 2026, as he was closing his food truck in St. Louis County. Authorities said the victim died from his wounds. Two other people were also shot, with one victim struck in the leg and another shot multiple times.
Eyewitnesses told investigators that a black Toyota Corolla carrying three males dressed in black and wearing masks drove past the victim, according to the probable cause statements. The rear passenger then got out of the vehicle and shot at the victim with an assault rifle, the statements said.
Investigators said the vehicle was captured on camera leaving the scene, and additional video showed it heading toward Illinois. Illinois police later found the vehicle on fire shortly after the shooting, according to the probable cause statements. Three males dressed in similar attire were captured on camera leaving the scene of the burning vehicle.
The probable cause statements said preliminary National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) analysis indicated that shell casings recovered at the murder scene were consistent with casings found near Weems’ residence. However, authorities said that the finding is subject to final laboratory analysis.
Authorities also said both Weems and Heartfield identified themselves from video taken at a gas station about five minutes from the shooting scene shortly before the shooting, where they were purchasing gasoline. The probable cause statements further said both defendants identified themselves in a video captured near the burning Corolla. Authorities said about 22 minutes elapsed between the shooting and the discovery of the burning vehicle.
The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons is investigating.
The prosecuting attorney’s office noted that charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
