On the evening of May 7, 2021, a large crowd of between 100 and 200 people had gathered for a block party in the 5500 block of Mable Avenue in Kinloch, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. The event, which police later described as being related to a local street gang, was interrupted when a gray 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck pulled up to the scene. The vehicle sat stationary for several minutes before the occupants inside opened fire into the congregation of attendees.
The sudden violence prompted at least one individual within the park to return fire, causing the truck to flee the area shortly after the exchange.
In the aftermath of the shooting, five men arrived at local hospitals suffering from gunshot wounds. Among the victims was 18-year-old Montrez Hughes of St. Louis, who succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The incident also claimed the life of 38-year-old Eddie Wilkerson from unincorporated St. Louis County. Three other men survived the attack with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators from the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons immediately launched an inquiry, utilizing witness statements and surveillance footage to track down the assailants.
Police quickly identified the suspect vehicle using license plate reader cameras, tracking its movements to Cardinal Glennon Hospital. Security video captured the truck dropping off 31-year-old Arttavis Farrell who was seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to his ankle. Investigators determined that Farrell had been riding in the extended cab of the truck, the same position from which witnesses claimed the shots were fired. The truck was registered to the mother of 19-year-old Akeem Sims. Authorities executed a search warrant and discovered that Sims was the only other person with access to the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed that Sims was already out on bond for pending cases and was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time of the shooting. The GPS data placed him directly at the scene in Kinloch during the timeframe of the murders. Upon questioning, Sims admitted to driving the truck and pointing out specific individuals in the crowd before the shooting commenced. Prosecutors charged both Arttavis Farrell and Akeem Sims with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault, six counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon.
