Anthony Lee-Armstrong (City of St. Louis).
A terrifying road rage incident unfolded in Missouri when a 19-year-old allegedly opened fire on a pregnant woman’s vehicle as she returned from a maternity checkup with her toddler and the child’s father. The woman and her family were targeted by Anthony Lee-Armstrong, who reportedly shot multiple rounds at their car on May 17, according to authorities.
Based on the probable cause affidavit, the shooting took place while the family was en route home from a prenatal appointment. At the time, the mother was 11 weeks pregnant. The father sustained shrapnel injuries to his shoulder and chin, and their vehicle suffered extensive damage from the gunfire.
The affidavit details the harrowing encounter: “[The father] stated that he, [the mother], and their 2-year-old child … were returning from a prenatal appointment.” As they traveled south on S. Jefferson and approached a QuikTrip at 2600 Chouteau, a black Honda sedan cut them off. This car appeared to be in tandem with a Volkswagen sedan as they both entered the QuikTrip parking lot.
Upon entering the lot, the father reportedly approached the drivers of the sedans to inform them of their near-collision with his car. After this brief interaction, he returned to his vehicle and continued driving. However, as they approached a red light, he noticed the same black sedans had followed them and were now closely tailing their vehicle.
After pulling into the lot, the father told police he “approached the vehicle” and informed the drivers that they almost hit his car before returning to his vehicle and driving off. He approached a red light and noticed that the “same black sedans” allegedly pulled up to their vehicle and were following them.
“[The dad] drove off but the suspect vehicles followed, at times driving into oncoming traffic to keep up with victims’ vehicle,” the affidavit says. “[The dad] attempted to escape the suspect vehicle pursuing them by conducting a u-turn. He then heard an unknown amount of gunshots.”
The pregnant mom told police she instantly “felt pain in her back” and “noticed damage to her front windshield,” along with injuries that the dad sustained. A bullet was allegedly fired by Lee-Armstrong and struck the woman in “the rear of her upper left back,” according to the affidavit.
Cops say they obtained surveillance footage from a local business that shows the victims’ car being followed by the “two suspect vehicles.” The victims can be seen driving ahead of the Volkswagen when several gunshots are fired from the driver’s seat of the car, according to the affidavit.
The Volkswagen was registered to Lee-Armstrong, who was identified by the mother in a lineup as the driver “and the one that fired the shots.” She told police that Lee-Armstrong also allegedly made “racist statements” toward her and the father.
Lee-Armstrong was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree assault, four counts of armed criminal action, one count of first-degree property damage and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held without bond.