On the afternoon of December 27, 2022, a violent encounter took place in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Black Jack, Missouri, a suburb within St. Louis County. Byrom Donald Jr., a 19-year-old male resident of Overland, had driven to the 12400 block of Kendelwood Drive accompanied by a female passenger. The pair had arranged to meet with an acquaintance known to them as 'EJ' for the purpose of a transaction allegedly involving marijuana.
Upon their arrival at the designated
location, the meeting quickly escalated into a confrontation. The individual identified as 'EJ' approached the vehicle and produced a weapon, reportedly demanding the return of a firearm he had traded to the victim weeks earlier. During the dispute, the gunman fired shots into the car, striking the driver in the face and neck. The female passenger was also wounded in the back but survived her injuries. Emergency responders pronounced the driver dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department immediately launched an investigation to identify the shooter. Witness accounts and evidence from the scene indicated that the victims had prior dealings with the suspect. Through the analysis of cell phone records and witness identification, investigators linked the alias 'EJ' to Eric Anderson, a resident of St. Louis.
Authorities located and arrested Anderson on February 14, 2023. Following his apprehension, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged him with first-degree murder, assault, attempted robbery, and three counts of armed criminal action. He was subsequently held on a cash-only bond as the case proceeded through the legal system.
