Show-Me State Times

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced a man involved in the fatal shooting of a cab driver in Hazelwood, Missouri in 2022 to 17 years in prison. Coron Dees, one of the teens involved in the robbery of Dewight Price, was handed the sentence.

Dees, now 20, along with Jeremiah Allen, 20, and Trishawn Jones, 19, pleaded guilty to a robbery charge. Two others, Jones and Tywon Harris, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in the commission of a murder. The incident unfolded after the group planned to rob Price following a taxi ride arranged to a fake address.

"They told Price to drive to Hazelwood Central High School, thinking there would be no witnesses there at that time," the court heard. During the robbery, Price pleaded for his life, with Allen cautioning about Price having a gun. The situation escalated when Harris knocked Price to the ground, leading to the fatal shot fired by Jones before the group fled the scene.

Allen and Jones are awaiting their sentencing in the coming months, with Harris scheduled for July. The investigation into the incident was conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI, while the prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel.