On a Monday afternoon, an unsuspecting driver became the tragic victim of a rolling gun battle on a Missouri interstate. Kristen R. Whitted, a 46-year-old female, was traveling southbound on Interstate 170 in St. Louis on November 30, 2020, when she was caught in the crossfire of what authorities have described as a road rage incident between two other vehicles. Investigators believe Whitted had no connection to the individuals involved in the shootout.
A single gunshot struck her while she was alone in her SUV. First responders found her unconscious but still breathing and transported her to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The two vehicles involved in the gunfight fled the scene before police arrived. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated to investigate the homicide. Through their investigation, which was aided by a tip from a citizen, they identified one of the suspects. Less than a week after the fatal shooting, on December 4, 2020, authorities arrested 30-year-old Calvin Pittman of St. Louis.
Pittman was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and tampering with physical evidence. His bond was set at $500,000. At the time of Pittman's arrest, law enforcement officials announced that they were still searching for the second vehicle involved in the incident, described as a white or silver car. The investigation into the other party in the gunfight remains ongoing. Kristen Whitted's family remembered her as a loving mother and a woman who was always striving for more knowledge.
