In the late hours of a Saturday in St. Louis, a man named Darius Rackley, a 27-year-old male, tragically lost his life in a burst of gunfire. On the evening of August 26, 2017, Rackley, who was visiting from Decatur, Georgia, was in a vehicle with his father and brother after leaving a gas station. As they drove, they were followed by individuals in two other vehicles who ultimately opened fire, forever altering the lives of the Rackley family.
The shooting occurred around 9:50 p.m.
in the 6000 block of North Broadway. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Darius Rackley suffering from a gunshot wound. His two family members sustained minor injuries. All three men were transported to a local hospital, but Darius Rackley was pronounced dead. Investigators later released security footage showing nine persons of interest and two vehicles connected to the incident. Police stated they found no evidence to suggest that the victims had done anything to provoke the attack, leading them to believe the suspects had preyed upon them.
In connection with the killing, three individuals were eventually arrested and charged. Seventeen-year-old Anthony Claxton faced charges of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of armed criminal action. The other two individuals charged were 19-year-old D'Marco Reynolds and 22-year-old Damonta McClendon.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a surprising turn. In July 2019, during the trial of Anthony Claxton, a St. Louis Circuit Judge issued a directed verdict of acquittal. The judge determined that the prosecution had not presented enough evidence to prove their case against Claxton. His defense attorney stated that while there might have been enough to assume his client's involvement, there was not enough concrete evidence for a conviction. The other two suspects, D'Marco Reynolds and Damonta McClendon, were scheduled to stand trial later that year.
