21-year-old Marshawn Stepney has been sentenced to 25 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to five counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, first-degree tampering, and leaving the scene of a crash.
The charges stem from a tragic high-speed chase that unfolded on May 6, 2022. According to prosecutors, Stepney was behind the wheel of a stolen gray 2015 Jeep Cherokee connected to multiple vehicle thefts when he sideswiped another car near Delmar and Union. Shots were reportedly fired from the Jeep before police attempted to initiate a stop.
Authorities deployed spike strips, but Stepney continued driving, reaching speeds close to 80 miles per hour. The pursuit ended in devastation when the Jeep crashed into a minivan near Delmar and Pendleton.
Five family members lost their lives in that collision: Lahronda Simmons, Luther Simmons, Ephriam Simmons, Anngelique Simmons, and 11-year-old Takira Thompson. Two young girls survived but suffered injuries.
