A St. Louis man, Lee M. Shields, entered a guilty plea for possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon. The plea was made in U.S. District Court. Shields, aged 46, admitted to the charge on Wednesday, following an incident on September 17, 2023, when St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers discovered him assaulting a woman.
Police officers, while on patrol, witnessed Shields strike a woman over the head, causing her to fall and sustain serious injuries. The victim, though uncertain if she was hit with a fist or an object, was bleeding heavily from her mouth and nose. Shields attempted to leave the scene in a Jeep but was approached by officers who found a pistol magazine in his possession and a Glock 23 handgun in the vehicle. A 6-year-old, identified as the son of Shields and the victim, reported that his mother was struck with a gun.
Due to his prior felony conviction, Shields is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. The court has scheduled his sentencing for September 9, with an agreement between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Shields' attorney to recommend a 50-month prison sentence.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department handled the investigation while the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program promotes collaboration between law enforcement and community organizations and emphasizes strategic enforcement priorities alongside violence prevention efforts.