In the winter of 2016, a transaction intended to involve the exchange of a firearm took a fatal turn, ending the life of 28-year-old German Sanders, a Black / African American man from Ferguson, Missouri. On the afternoon of December 20th, in the Castle Point neighborhood of northern St. Louis County, Sanders met with another individual for what was supposed to be a gun deal.
The arrangement, however, devolved into violence, and Sanders was shot.
Following the sound of gunshots on the 10000 block of Prince Drive, police were called to the scene. Upon their arrival, they discovered neither a victim nor a suspect. A short time later, German Sanders was left at a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. Investigators quickly determined that he had been transported to the hospital from the location of the reported shooting. His death was classified as a homicide, prompting a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the deadly encounter.
The investigation into Sanders' death led to the arrest of 17-year-old Armon Ballard. According to police reports, Ballard was the individual who met with Sanders for the gun transaction. Authorities alleged that during the meeting, Ballard produced a handgun and shot Sanders. Subsequently, Ballard was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action for his role in the death of German Sanders. A judge set his bond at $500,000 as he awaited further legal proceedings.
