ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced a St. Louis man who had his gun taken away by the gas station employee he tried to rob to 12 ½ years in prison.
Marshall Seals, 26, entered the Mobil gas station at 1051 Hampton Avenue on Jan. 11, 2021 and initially tried to buy merchandise. He said he did not have enough money, left the store and pulled out a pistol when he returned. Seals pointed it at employee and racked the slide of the pre-World War II-era gun to load it, but it jammed. A lengthy struggle ensued, during which the employee took Seals’ gun. Seals left the store at one point and then returned, asking for his gun back. Seals also struck the clerk with a wine bottle during the struggle. Seals eventually left without the gun, his cell phone and some blood and hair.
On Feb. 22, 2021, police tried to pull over the SUV Seals was driving for a traffic violation, but he sped away. When he was caught and arrested, police found a loaded rifle in the vehicle.
Seals pleaded guilty in May to an attempted robbery charge.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case.
Source: USAO - Missouri, Eastern
