St. Louis man found guilty of killing son in front of granddaughter
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A St. Louis man was found guilty Friday of fatally shooting his adult son, a crime police say was witnessed by the victim’s 11-year-old daughter.
St. Louis prosecutors on Wednesday, April 30, charged 48-year-old Tekeia Hayes Henderson with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of his son, whose identity has not yet been made public.
He was found guilty on Friday by a St. Louis jury.
According to St. Louis Police, officers were dispatched around 9:50 p.m. Tuesday to a reported shooting in the 5100 block of Lexington. There, officers found the victim, 31-year-old Demarko Henderson, shot in the head and chest.
According to court documents, Tekeia Henderson’s girlfriend and an 11-year-old relative were present during the incident. They told the jury the confrontation between the father and son began when Demarko returned home with the child and accidentally woke his father.
Tekeia then became agitated and confronted the 11-year-old, who was gathering clothes from a closet in the bedroom where Tekeia was sleeping.
When Demarko intervened to protect the child, Tekeia shot his son, killing him.
Following the shooting, the 11-year-old ran to a neighbor for help, and the police were ed. Tekeia told the jury that the gun was for self-defence and the shooting was accidental.
Police said Henderson was accused of shooting the victim in the leg in 2022, but no charges were filed.
Tekeia Henderson faces a mandatory life sentence without parole for first-degree murder and up to 15 years for armed criminal action.
His sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2025.
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