Teen charged in quadruple shooting near N. Hanley MetroLink Station

CLAYTON, Mo. – A St. Louis teen is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond in connection with a quadruple shooting earlier this month near the North Hanley MetroLink Station. Two people were killed in the shooting.

The shooting happened July 5 around 11:50 p.m. in the 4300 block of North Hanley Road, according to St. Louis County Police Department spokeswoman Mary Schmitt.

Police arrived to find three men suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim died at the scene, while a second victim died at the hospital. The third victim was taken to the hospital. Police said a fourth victim took themselves to the hospital. Their injuries were not life-threatening.

Schmitt said investigators learned a man and woman were walking on MetroLink property when they were approached by four male suspects. The suspects displayed a firearm and demanded the couple’s belongings.

The victims complied and the suspects fled. However, a group of males who witnessed the robbery ran over and helped the victims chase after the suspects.

The two groups got into a fight and the suspects opened fire, Schmitt said.

The deceased victims were identified as Johnell Wilder-Lawson of St. Ann and Charles Sanders Jr. of St. Louis. Wilder-Lawson, 29, was one of the original victims. Sanders, 33, was part of the group of good Samaritans that came to help the couple.

Homicide detectives eventually identified and arrested Makell L. Hemphill, 18, for the fatal shooting.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Hemphill with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action.