ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A 17-year-old was charged as an adult Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in the killing of a Lyft driver who authorities say was caught in a planned shootout between rival groups in Ferguson. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Kamarionne Carter with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon after the county’s Family Court certified him as an adult earlier that day.
Shannon O’Brien, 28, an Edwardsville High School graduate, was killed on Jan. 30, 2026, while driving three passengers to a location.
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Carter, of the 10500 block of Earl Drive in St. Louis, is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond, with no 10% payment option.
According to the probable cause statement accompanying Carter’s charges, investigators searching Cortez Alexander’s phone with consent found that Alexander and a juvenile identified as K.C. had agreed to meet someone identified as N.J. to resolve a conflict through a shootout. N.J. later told investigators he knew about the plan and was ready to participate, the statement says.
Alexander arranged a Lyft ride for himself and K.C., according to the statement. They arrived with a third juvenile in a Hyundai Elantra driven by O’Brien and parked behind a Chevrolet Malibu containing N.J. and others.
Gunfire erupted between the groups, and O’Brien was struck once in the back, according to the statement. The three passengers fled on foot, and the third juvenile arranged another Lyft ride for them, investigators said.
Ferguson police responded to a report of shots fired in the 1700 block of Windward Court just before 4 p.m. Jan. 30. Officers found O’Brien wounded in the driver’s seat. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three other defendants were previously charged as adults in the case.
Lamarkus Van, 17, was certified as an adult Aug. 10 and charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and first-degree assault or attempted assault. He is being held on a $1.5 million cash-only bond. According to his probable cause statement, Van told investigators he knew about the planned confrontation and participated in the shootout.
Alexander, 17, was certified as an adult July 22, 2026, and charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and first-degree assault or attempted assault. He is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
Noah Johnson, 18, was charged March 17, 2026, with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and aiding or abetting a person shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in injury or death. He is being held on a $750,000 cash-only bond.
According to Johnson’s probable cause statement, he admitted during questioning to firing from the Malibu. Investigators said the three passengers in O’Brien’s vehicle were the intended targets because of an ongoing feud.
St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are leading the investigation at the request of Ferguson police. Anyone with information can contact county police at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477 to remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward.
The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
