On what began as a typical Saturday morning, Malachi Brown, a 21-year-old man, was on his way to his job at a local jewelry store, a place where he was known for his kind and respectful nature. His commute on April 29, 2023, aboard a MetroLink train in St. Louis, Missouri, however, would be his last. The events that unfolded that day were sudden and violent, leaving a community to grapple with a senseless loss of life on its public transit system.
As the train neared the
Maplewood-Manchester station, a verbal altercation erupted between Brown and another passenger, 69-year-old Terry Alexander. The two were seated across the aisle from one another when the dispute began. The argument quickly escalated to a level of violence that shocked the other riders. Alexander allegedly drew a firearm and shot Brown multiple times. Despite his injuries, Brown, who was also armed, managed to return fire. A physical struggle then ensued over the weapons, with Alexander ultimately gaining control of both firearms.
The violence came to an end as the train pulled into the next station, where law enforcement was able to intervene. Two St. Louis County police officers assigned to the MetroLink Police Task Force were on the train at the time of the incident and promptly apprehended Alexander at the scene. Brown was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. The incident caused significant disruptions to the MetroLink service for several hours as the investigation into the fatal shooting began.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed charges against Terry Alexander. He is facing one count of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action for his alleged role in the death of Malachi Brown. Following the charges, Alexander was held on a $200,000 cash-only bond. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the public transit system and has prompted discussions among officials about enhancing security measures to prevent future tragedies.
