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Texas couple charged in shooting death of Missouri high schooler on her way to the zoo
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Willie Herndon, 42, and his wife Taiya Herndon from Texas were charged in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alyssa Wilson, who was driving to a Halloween event at the St. Louis Zoo.
- Alyssa was shot through the rear of her vehicle on Interstate 170 in Overland, Missouri, and died at Barnes-Jewish Hospital; the Herndons had no known connection to her.
- Willie Herndon faces first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges, while Taiya Herndon is charged with hindering prosecution for driving her husband to a hotel after the incident.
- The couple was tracked and arrested in Illinois using security footage and license plate readers, with a gun and other evidence recovered during a search.
- Authorities praised the rapid resolution of the case within 36 hours, crediting collaboration among local and federal law enforcement agencies, while investigations into possible motives and related cases continue.
