A man from Belleville, Illinois, is facing serious charges following an alleged assault at Gateway Arch National Park. Darrion Lamont Evans, 20, was indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis on one count of assault by strangulation and two counts of interstate domestic violence. The allegations include accusations that he assaulted a woman he was dating after causing her to travel across state lines.
Evans appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The indictment claims that on April 28, 2025, Evans strangled the victim during the incident. A motion filed in court suggests that Evans transported the victim from Belleville to the Arch grounds without her consent before allegedly hitting and strangling her. National Park Rangers reportedly found the victim in a vehicle parked on a service road following the attack.
It is important to note that charges outlined in an indictment are only accusations and do not prove guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If convicted, each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The case was investigated by the National Park Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag.
