Murder case dismissed against Wellston man in 2019 homicide

Joel Currier
Jan 5, 2021
Jan 5, 2021
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Ke'Shuan Jones, 18, was charged with murder on May 17, 2019, in connection with a shooting in Wellston several days earlier. Photo courtesy of the North County Police Cooperative

Man wanted for Wellston killing is captured in Arizona

Ke'Shuan "Tank" Jones, 18, of the 6300 block of Wellsmar Avenue, has been on the run ever since May, when an at-large murder warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the shooting death of Koreyion Brown, 19, in Wellston. He was arrested on July 25, 2019 in Mesa, Arizona. Photo courtesy of the North County Police Cooperative

Rachel Rice

Joel Currier

UPDATED at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with comment by the attorney for Ke'Shuan Jones.

WELLSTON — A St. Louis County judge on Monday dismissed charges against a Wellston man in a 2019 murder case because prosecutors were unable to persuade witnesses to cooperate, officials say.

Charges of first-degree murder, assault and armed criminal action were dropped against Ke'Shuan "Tank" Jones, 20, in the May 13, 2019, shooting death of Koreyion Brown.

Chris King, a spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, cited "unavailability and lack of cooperation of essential witnesses" for the court's dismissal.

Read: Ke'Shaun "Tank" Jones' motion to dismiss case

Last year, Jones' public defender filed a motion for a speedy trial, which establishes a 180-day deadline for having a trial for defendants detained without bail. But jury trials have been suspended in St. Louis County Circuit Court for months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month his lawyer, Paulette M. Pagán, filed a motion to dismiss the charges.

"Along with the speedy trial request, we took the necessary action to reveal the lack of evidence in this case," she said in a statement. "Mr. Jones was imprisoned for nearly a year and a half on these allegations. Ultimately the court dismissed all charges after the state answered (it was) not ready to proceed with trial."

Jones was charged with fatally shooting Brown, 19, in the 1500 block of Wellston Place. His body was found in a lot behind a vacant building. Jones was arrested in Arizona about two months after Brown's death.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the length of time allotted for a defendant seeking a speedy trial. The story has been updated.