On September 28, 2020, police in St. Louis County, Missouri, responded to a disturbance call that escalated into a fatal shooting at an apartment complex in Spanish Lake. Officers arrived at the 11100 block of Suntree Drive around 7:30 p.m., where they discovered the body of 25-year-old Eric Hearton Jr. in a courtyard near the rear of the residential buildings.
Hearton had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly identified a suspect, 25-year-old Kameron Dozier, who lived at the apartment complex. According to the probable cause statement filed by authorities, the incident began as a verbal argument between Hearton and Dozier which intensified into a physical altercation outside of Dozier's apartment. Following the fight, Dozier allegedly retreated inside his residence and retrieved a firearm, waiting by his door.
The situation turned deadly when Hearton approached Dozier’s patio door carrying a small barbecue pit. Dozier reportedly admitted to detectives that upon seeing Hearton approach, he fired three shots, striking and killing him. Police noted that Dozier did not attempt to contact law enforcement or close his door prior to the shooting. Investigators found three shell casings outside the apartment, corroborating the sequence of events. Authorities further stated that Hearton did not enter the apartment and was not armed with a knife or gun at the time of his death.
Following the investigation, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Kameron Dozier with second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. He was taken into custody and held on a $150,000 cash-only bond. Dozier reportedly confessed to the shooting during police interviews, providing details that aligned with the physical evidence found at the scene.
