In the early evening of March 19, 2017, a tragic event unfolded at the 8th & Clark MetroLink platform, located just outside of Busch Stadium in Saint-Louis, Missouri, that ended the life of 57-year-old Mac Steven Payne. An innocent bystander, Payne was struck in the head by a stray bullet and later succumbed to his injuries. A father and grandfather, known to his family as 'Stevie', he was simply making his way home, a routine trip that took a devastating turn.
The fatal shot originated
from an attempted robbery that was taking place on a westbound MetroLink train. During the commission of this crime, a firearm was discharged, and a bullet traveled through the train car, striking Mr. Payne who was on the platform. The incident prompted an investigation that quickly identified persons of interest, thanks to security footage from the MetroLink station.
Following the shooting, two suspects were taken into custody and subsequently charged in connection with the events that led to Payne's untimely death. The charges brought against them included murder, armed criminal action, and robbery. In the wake of this tragedy, Mac Payne's widow, Jeanette, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Bi-State Development Agency, which operates the MetroLink system. The lawsuit alleged that negligence and a lack of adequate security on the part of the agency contributed to the dangerous circumstances that resulted in her husband's death.
