Mom killed when teens try to carjack her, MO cops say. 15-year-old sentenced
An armed 13-year-old approached the driver’s side of a vehicle as a mom and her daughter sat inside, Missouri police said. Another teen, who was also armed, went to the passenger side, officials said.
The St. Louis mother refused to get out of the car that January 2023 day, so one of the teens shot through the window and fatally struck her in the face, according to a probable cause statement.
Two suspects, Brian Wellington and Deshaun Harris, were indicted on charges of murder, armed criminal action in May 2024.
Wellington, who is now 15 years old, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 years in prison on April 21, according to court records.
Wellington’s attorney information was not listed.
The teenagers were accused of killing 38-year-old Kay Johnson as she was parked in her garage.
They were connected to a string of prior robberies and carjackings, and they showed up to Johnson’s home in a vehicle they are accused of carjacking, according to Wellington’s probable cause statement.
Johnson is remembered for her “generosity and fun-loving personality” by her family and friends, her obituary said.
“She fulfilled her role as a mother with a fierce love for her child and a deep courage only few may possess,” according to her obituary.
Harris’ trial for the end of April was recently canceled pending a case reset, according to court records.
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Mom killed when teens try to carjack her, MO cops say. 15-year-old sentenced."
