In the quiet suburb of St. John in St. Louis County, the life of 27-year-old Aashya Quarles, a mother of three, was tragically cut short on the night of November 23, 2018. She was driving her car near the intersection of St. Charles Rock Road and I-70 when an assailant in another vehicle opened fire. Her car, riddled with bullets, then crashed into a pole in the 8100 block of St. Charles Lane.
First responders found her at the scene and attempted to save her, but she succumbed to at least one gunshot wound. The violent impact of the crash was so severe that it shook the homes of nearby residents.
In the days leading up to her death, Aashya had been volunteering at Beyond Housing, a local organization, where she had expressed a desire to make a positive change in her life. She had also conveyed to others that she felt she was in danger. Her death left her three young children without a mother and a community mourning the loss of a woman who was described as a dedicated volunteer with a bright spirit. Initially, investigators were unsure if the shooting was a random act of violence or a targeted attack and had no immediate suspects.
Four months later, a breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of 29-year-old Alpheus Bass III. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged him with first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with Aashya's death. According to court documents, Bass was seen outside a beauty supply store that Quarles had been in shortly before the shooting. Further video evidence showed him getting out of his car just minutes after the homicide. Despite the arrest and charges, the police have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting or the nature of the relationship between Bass and Aashya Quarles.
