There are new details in the fatal shooting of Charles Campbell, the 33-year-old who was found dead on the Laclede's Landing MetroLink station last week -- making him the 18th homicide of the year in the city of St. Louis.
Akira Edmonds, 24, an "acquaintance" of Campbell, is now facing charges of first-degree murder, officials says. The two were hanging out last Tuesday evening when they had a "disagreement" that reportedly turned violent.
Meanwhile, Metro officials are speaking out about the shooting -- urging that tragedies like this are rare.
According to a probable cause statement from the Circuit Attorney's Office, on view below, Edmonds and Campbell were out together on Tuesday evening and during the course of the night had some sort of disagreement.
When Campbell was walking down the MetroLink platform, Edmonds allegedly followed him.
Eventually, he fired multiple shots at Campbell, who died a short while later.
Edmonds is from the 40 block of South Floridale Drive in St. Louis and a judge ordered he be held without bond.
Since the shooting, Metro officials have also sent out a news release emphasizing that this "was not a random crime," and that police are using surveillance video in their investigation. Part of the statement says:
Tragedies like this one are rare on the Metro system which carries nearly 900,000 passengers each week.... We appreciate the urgency that law enforcement investigators have placed on solving this crime.
Here's the probable cause document followed by the full Metro statement.
Akira Edmonds Probable Cause Statement
And here's the Metro statement:
Metro Statement Regarding Arch-Laclede's Landing IncidentThe St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting late last night at the Arch-Laclede's Landing MetroLink Station. Police have indicated that this was not a random crime. All media inquiries about the investigation should be directed to St. Louis Police.
The Metro security guard assigned to patrol the station and surrounding area had been on the platform just minutes earlier but was not on the platform at the time of the shooting. A Metro Transit Service Manager, also at the station, was descending the platform stairs and responded immediately. Police are using the surveillance video to aid in their investigation and it will not be released by Metro or the police department.
Tragedies like this one are rare on the Metro system which carries nearly 900,000 passengers each week. Metro's Public Safety Department includes commissioned police officers from St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Clair County as well as full-time former police officers and contracted security officers. Metro is not permitted to be a licensed police department so we are working closely with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion. We appreciate the urgency that law enforcement investigators have placed on solving this crime.
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