In the early morning hours of March 13, 2022, a dispute in a residence on the 1800 block of Bigley Avenue in Charleston, West Virginia, ended in the tragic death of 21-year-old Keyshawnta St. John. Officers from the Charleston Police Department responded to a shooting at approximately 6:15 a.m. and discovered St. John inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the life-saving efforts of the Charleston Fire Department, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a robbery gone wrong. Two men, Mikeo Wooton, 20, of Dunbar, and Davone Lee Foote Jr., 20, of Washington D.C., had traveled to Charleston with the intention of robbing St. John. The attempted burglary escalated, leading to an argument during which St. John was shot multiple times. Wooton and Foote Jr. fled the residence on foot but were quickly apprehended by police a short distance away. Both men were subsequently charged with first-degree murder.
In May 2023, Mike'o Wooton pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his role in Keyshawnta St. John's death. Wooton admitted to shooting St. John after their robbery attempt failed and an argument ensued. As part of a plea agreement, he faced a sentence of 10 to 40 years in prison.
Keyshawnta St. John, born on December 20, 2000, was remembered as a loyal and comedic presence who enjoyed taking care of those around him. He was a father to two children, Ke'Laya and Keylen St. John. His obituary described him as someone who was never predictable and always the one to get things "shaking."
