A St. Louis man has confessed to several violent crimes, including a carjacking in 2018 and a shooting in 2021. Darnell L. Clemons, 38, admitted guilt in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to charges comprising one count of carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
The incidents involved began on May 16, 2018, when Clemons and an accomplice carjacked the manager of a University City restaurant. They took her 2015 Toyota Corolla, cash, and phone. On July 29, 2021, Clemons shot a man during an altercation at a convenience store after his nephew attempted to steal the man's gun.
Another incident occurred on August 4, 2021. After what appeared to be a shootout with unknown individuals in O'Fallon neighborhood in St. Louis, Clemons entered through the window of an unrelated person's home. Police later found him with an empty stolen pistol.
Clemons was arrested on December 8, 2021 for outstanding warrants; authorities discovered he had a loaded Glock with an extended magazine.
His sentencing is set for April 24.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies: The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; University City Police Department; Florissant Police Department; and St. Louis County Crime Lab were all part of this effort.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Matthew Martin are handling prosecution duties for this case.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime by fostering community trust and supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it happens.