ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A 23-year-old man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a teenager in Spanish Lake late Friday night, an incident that has shaken the north St. Louis County community and added to ongoing concerns over gun violence in the area.
St. Louis County prosecutors announced Sunday that Nykelte Wilburn, 23, has been charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and failure to report a shooting. He is being held without bond.
The victim has been identified as 17-year-old Damonte Hightower of Spanish Lake.
Dispute Turned Deadly
According to a probable cause statement filed by St. Louis County Police, the shooting occurred shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Friday, August 29, outside a business in the 11000 block of Larimore Road.
Investigators say Wilburn and Hightower became involved in a heated argument in the parking lot. Surveillance video from the business captured Wilburn pulling out a firearm and firing a single shot at the teen.
Hightower was critically wounded. A witness at the scene rushed him to a nearby hospital, but despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead later that night.
Community Reaction
Residents of Spanish Lake expressed deep sadness and frustration over the killing of yet another young person. Neighbors said they heard multiple people yelling before the gunfire broke out.
“I just don’t understand why a disagreement has to end with a gun,” one longtime resident said. “He was just 17. His whole life was ahead of him.”
The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons is leading the investigation. Officials have not disclosed what sparked the argument between the two men.
A Violent Weekend in Spanish Lake
The tragedy marks the first of two shootings in less than 24 hours in Spanish Lake.
On Saturday around 12:30 p.m., another man was shot and seriously injured in the 1000 block of Prigge Road, just under two miles from the Larimore Road homicide scene. Police have not confirmed whether the two incidents are connected.
The victim in the Saturday shooting remains hospitalized in serious condition, and detectives continue to investigate.
Legal Consequences
Prosecutors say Wilburn’s charges reflect both the violent nature of the crime and his failure to immediately notify authorities. In Missouri, knowingly failing to report a shooting is a criminal offense, and officials stressed the importance of community members coming forward with information in such cases.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Wilburn could face a sentence of 10 to 30 years—or life in prison.
Ongoing Concerns Over Youth Violence
The killing of Damonte Hightower adds to a troubling pattern of youth violence in St. Louis County this year. Community advocates say more needs to be done to prevent arguments and personal disputes from escalating into deadly encounters.
“Gun violence is tearing apart families in our neighborhoods,” said one local activist. “We cannot accept teenagers being killed in our streets as the new normal.”
Police have urged anyone with information about either shooting to contact St. Louis County CrimeStoppers. Anonymous tips can be provided, and rewards may be available.
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