On the morning of December 8, 2020, the Pagedale Police Department received a call regarding a shooting in the 6500 block of Whitney Avenue in Saint Louis, Missouri. At approximately 11:24 a.m., responding officers arrived at the scene to discover a Black male victim who had sustained several gunshot wounds. The situation prompted local authorities to request the assistance of the Major Case Squad of Greater St.
Louis to lead the homicide investigation.
The wounded individual was identified as Samson Cooper Jr., a 20-year-old resident of the area. Emergency medical personnel transported him from the scene to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff to save him, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the medical facility shortly after his arrival.
Detectives commenced a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. The investigation quickly gathered evidence leading law enforcement to identify a suspect in connection with the crime. The Major Case Squad worked in conjunction with the Pagedale Police Department to track down the alleged perpetrator involved in the violent encounter.
Police arrested 19-year-old Deyontez Huntley following the investigation. Prosecutors subsequently charged Huntley with Murder in the Second Degree and Armed Criminal Action for his alleged role in the death of Cooper. Following the charges, a judge set Huntley's bond at $200,000 as the legal proceedings began.
