St. Louis prosecutors charge 18-year-old with starting gun battle that killed 14-year-old in Gravois Park

Charges filed nearly eight weeks after December shooting

An 18-year-old man has been charged in connection with a December gun battle in south St. Louis that ended with the death of a 14-year-old boy in the Gravois Park neighborhood.

Prosecutors charged Demeteris Vanarsdale, 18, with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. The charges follow a homicide investigation into the killing of Samuel Williams Jr., 14, who was shot on Dec. 17, 2025.

What investigators say happened on Dec. 17

Police were called to the 3600 block of Oregon Avenue at about 5:50 p.m. on Dec. 17. Officers found Williams outside with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Court records describe the shooting as the result of an exchange of gunfire that began nearby and moved through the neighborhood. Investigators place the start of the gunfire around the 3600 block of Nebraska Avenue as Williams, Vanarsdale and another person were returning from a store.

Alleged admissions described in court documents

In a recorded interview conducted after he was advised of his rights, Vanarsdale told police he fired a gun at a vehicle near Nebraska Avenue, setting off a gun battle that continued toward Oregon Avenue, court records state.

According to the same records, Vanarsdale told investigators he had never seen the vehicle before and did not know who was inside. He also told police he fired first and had not seen a gun in the vehicle before opening fire.

Weapon and evidence allegations

Court records state Vanarsdale used a 9mm handgun and left the scene with the weapon after the shooting. He is accused of giving the gun to another person. Prosecutors also filed a tampering with physical evidence charge, indicating investigators believe steps were taken to affect the availability or condition of evidence after the shooting.

What remains unresolved

The case file indicates additional people may have been involved in the exchange of gunfire, and the investigation has focused on identifying others connected to the shooting. The publicly described allegations center on whether Vanarsdale’s first shots triggered the broader exchange that ultimately killed Williams.

• Victim: Samuel Williams Jr., 14
• Date and location: Dec. 17, 2025, 3600 block of Oregon Avenue
• Defendant: Demeteris Vanarsdale, 18
• Charges: second-degree murder, armed criminal action (2), unlawful use of a weapon, tampering with physical evidence

Vanarsdale is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.