On a Saturday evening in May, the roar of engines and screeching tires filled the air near the Earth City Expressway and Corporate Woods Drive in Bridgeton, Missouri. An illegal car meet, known as a 'slide show,' had drawn a crowd of over 100 vehicles, with drivers performing reckless stunts. The chaotic scene turned tragic when gunfire erupted as police began to arrive around 8:30 p.m. in response to complaints.
In the midst of the mayhem, 15-year-old Gerardo Perez, a male student from East St. Louis, was struck in the head by a bullet while sitting in the back seat of a truck.
Gerardo was rushed to a hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he passed away a few days later on May 21, 2024. The shooting also resulted in injuries to five other individuals, including three others who were in the same truck as Gerardo. The violence did not immediately cease with the police presence; the car event merely relocated a few miles away to a lot in unincorporated north St. Louis County, where illegal activities continued.
An investigation was launched by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, leading to the identification and arrest of two suspects. Investigators identified 19-year-old Garron Amon Stevenson as the alleged shooter. During questioning, Stevenson admitted to firing an AR-15 rifle eight times from a red Hyundai. A police dog later discovered the weapon concealed within a wall in the basement of Stevenson's St. Louis home.
Prosecutors charged Stevenson with second-degree murder, three counts of assault, multiple counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. His bond was set at $1,000,000. A second individual, a 17-year-old male, was also taken into custody and faced charges of second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and first-degree assault in juvenile court. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the incident and have urged the public to come forward with any additional information.
