ST. LOUIS — Circuit Attorney Jennifer M. Joyce announced today that a First-Degree Murder charge has been filed against former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) Officer Jason Stockley in the shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith following a car chase on December 20, 2011.
“We believe we have the evidence we need to prove Mr. Stockley’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” said Jennifer M. Joyce, Circuit Attorney for the city of St. Louis.
In a probable cause statement released today, prosecutors allege that Stockley shot into Smith’s car at Riverview and Thekla, in St. Louis. Then Stockley and his partner, who was driving the SUV, chased Smith at speeds over 80 miles per hour. During the pursuit, the defendant is heard on an internal police car video saying “Going to kill this m/f, don’t you know it.”
As Smith’s car was slowing to a stop, Stockley is also heard telling the other officer to “Hit him right now,” at which point the driver slams the police SUV into the victim’s car.
Stockley then approached Smith’s car on the driver’s side and shot five times into the car, striking the victim Anthony Smith with each shot. The victim died as a result of the gunshot wounds.
A gun was recovered from the victim’s car but was later determined by lab analysis to have only Stockley’s DNA on it.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office first reviewed this case at the request of the SLMPD in 2012. Both the FBI and the SLMPD Internal Affairs Division did extensive work on gathering evidence, although no charges were filed. In March, 2016, SLMPD Internal Affairs investigators contacted the Circuit Attorney’s Office (CAO) to review the matter with additional evidence developed through both the SLMPD and the FBI.
Joyce believes she now has the evidence she needs to pursue charges. She will take this matter to a Grand Jury in the coming weeks for its review. The Justice Department is also reviewing the matter and has not yet released its findings.
