On the evening of Sunday, November 5, 2017, a violent incident unfolded at a residence on the 9700 block of Vickie Place in St. Louis County, Missouri. Inside the home, 35-year-old Michael Guest II was targeted in a robbery attempt that quickly escalated into a fatal encounter. Emergency responders were called to the scene around 8:40 p.m. after reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Guest suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was transported to a local hospital for urgent medical attention, but despite the efforts of medical personnel, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
Detectives from the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons launched a homicide investigation to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. Authorities determined that the motive behind the intrusion was the theft of a large quantity of marijuana. According to police reports, two men had arrived at the residence with the intention of robbing Guest. During the confrontation, the situation turned deadly when one of the assailants opened fire, striking Guest. The pair then fled the scene with a gallon-sized bag of cannabis.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on two suspects who were subsequently taken into custody. Police identified the alleged shooter as 34-year-old Ratio Warren and his accomplice as 18-year-old Devin Rhone. Investigators stated that while Warren fired the fatal shot, Rhone had remained at the front door during the commission of the crime. Both men were arrested and held on $500,000 cash-only bonds.
Prosecutors charged both Warren and Rhone with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and armed criminal action in connection with Guest's death. In addition to these charges, Rhone faced a separate count for the unlawful possession of a firearm. The case highlighted a robbery gone wrong, where a dispute over property ended in the loss of a life.
