In the early morning hours of September 17, 2021, the life of 31-year-old Patrice Renee Wimbley, a Black female, was tragically cut short in Saint Louis, Missouri. The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. inside a vacant house in the 2900 block of Kossuth Avenue in the city's Fairground neighborhood. Wimbley was not alone; she was with two other women when shots rang out.
When police arrived at the scene, they found a grim tableau.
Patrice Wimbley and another woman, identified as 30-year-old Jamie Willard, had been fatally shot. A third woman, who was 42 years old, was also shot but survived her injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The reason for the women's presence in the abandoned building has not been made public by the authorities, leaving a lingering question in the narrative of this violent encounter.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to a suspect, 62-year-old Charles Anderson. At the time he was identified as the alleged shooter, Anderson was already in custody in Jennings on charges unrelated to the murders. He had been there for approximately two weeks before being formally charged in connection with the shootings.
Anderson, a resident of the 4000 block of North 25th Street, is facing a litany of serious charges for his alleged role in the incident. These include two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Patrice Wimbley and Jamie Willard, three counts of armed criminal action, and one count of first-degree assault for the wounding of the third woman. A motive for the deadly shooting has not been disclosed by law enforcement officials. The legal proceedings against Charles Anderson are making their way through the justice system.
