In the early morning hours of December 29, 2023, the life of 20-year-old Ki’shaela Wellington was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting in St. Louis, Missouri. Responding to a call shortly after 5 a.m., police discovered Wellington inside her silver Chevy Impala near the intersection of North Kingshighway and Martin Luther King Drive. She had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, with her car still running just a mile and a half from her home.
The young woman, who was just one month away from her 21st birthday, was found behind the wheel.
Ki’shaela was a beloved daughter, sister, and member of the North City Church of Christ. She was a graduate of Soldan International High School where she was active in the JROTC program and played on the basketball team. Described as goal-oriented with a bright smile and a caring personality, she worked as a security guard at a Schnuck's supermarket and had aspirations of becoming a St. Louis police officer and a professional boxer. She was also a caretaker for her mother.
According to her family, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the intersection which showed another vehicle pulling up alongside Wellington's car. Someone from that vehicle fired multiple shots into her car before speeding off. As of early January 2024, the police were still investigating leads in the case, but no arrests had been made, and they were still searching for the gunman. In the wake of her death, Wellington's family held a balloon release to honor her memory and continue to seek justice for their loss.
