On February 22, 2018, 27-year-old William Dortch was killed in a violent shooting incident in the Berkeley neighborhood of St. Louis County, Missouri. The events leading to his death began with a dispute over a parking spot involving two women, one of whom was the ex-girlfriend of a man named Lonnell Lewis-Jones. Lewis-Jones was called to the scene to intervene in the argument.
Upon his arrival, the confrontation escalated, prompting Dortch and two other individuals to attempt to flee the area in a vehicle.
As the car began to drive away, Lonnell Lewis-Jones and another individual opened fire on the moving vehicle, discharging more than 30 rounds. William Dortch, who was a passenger in the car, was struck by the gunfire and died from his injuries. The barrage of bullets also claimed the life of a bystander, 55-year-old Frank Langston. Langston was a contract utility worker performing his duties in the area when he was hit by a stray bullet during the chaotic shooting.
Following the investigation, law enforcement identified Lonnell Lewis-Jones as a primary suspect in the double homicide. He was arrested and subsequently charged with multiple felonies, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and armed criminal action. During the legal proceedings, prosecutors argued that Lewis-Jones acted with lethal intent when he fired repeatedly into the occupied vehicle. In June 2023, a St. Louis County jury found him guilty on all counts. He was later sentenced to life in prison for his role in the deaths of both William Dortch and Frank Langston.
