In the early evening of June 15, 2023, a dispute at a Mobil Crown Mart gas station on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in St. Louis, Missouri, tragically escalated, claiming the life of 17-year-old Keyon Taylor. The male teenager was at the gas station when a confrontation erupted between two groups, leading to an exchange of gunfire around 7:15 p.m.
Taylor sustained gunshot wounds to his shoulder and buttocks and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The shootout left two other men wounded. A 36-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to his leg, shoulder, and back and was transported to a hospital in stable condition by an acquaintance. A third individual, a 30-year-old man, was discovered nearby with a gunshot wound to his leg; he received treatment at a hospital and was subsequently released.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement detained two men, aged 30 and 19, near the scene and recovered firearms from both individuals. Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, 20-year-old Darnell Rhodes. According to court documents, Rhodes admitted that he and Taylor had initiated the gunfire after encountering individuals with whom they had previous conflicts. The occupants of the other vehicle returned fire, resulting in Taylor's fatal injuries.
Darnell Rhodes has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and armed criminal action for his alleged role in the incident that led to the death of his friend, Keyon Taylor. He is currently being held without bond as he awaits trial.
