Texas couple arrested for killing Missouri teen en route to St. Louis Zoo

A St. Louis County prosecutor this week filed charges against Texas residents Willie and Taiya Herndon for the fatal freeway shooting of 17-year-old Alyssa Wilson. Willie, 42, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action; Taiya is charged with hindering prosecution after allegedly driving him to a hotel in Caseyville, Illinois, twelve miles from St. Louis. The incident happened at about 7 p.m. on a Wednesday when Wilson was traveling south on Interstate 170 toward the St. Louis Zoo’s Halloween event and was hit by a single bullet that penetrated her vehicle.

Chief Deputy Commander Jack Abell said surveillance video captured a white Buick Enclave stopping, a person exiting, firing, and then fleeing. Law enforcement tracked the out-of-state vehicle via license-plate readers and extensive surveillance, culminating in the couple’s capture after a joint effort by the FBI, ATF and local agencies. A judge set bail at $1 million for Willie and $500,000 for Taiya; Taiya is held on an out-of-state warrant with no bail. The motive remains under investigation.