A St. Louis man, Darnell L. Clemons, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey for a series of violent crimes including an armed carjacking in 2018 and a shooting in 2021. The sentencing took place on Tuesday following testimony at a hearing that highlighted the impact of Clemons' actions on his victims.
Clemons was involved in a May 16, 2018 incident where he and his nephew robbed and carjacked the manager of a restaurant in University City, Missouri. During this crime, Clemons used a handgun to threaten the victim before stealing her vehicle, cash, and phone.
On July 29, 2021, another violent encounter occurred when Clemons shot a customer at a Florissant gas station after his nephew attempted to steal the customer's gun. This resulted in permanent injury to the victim.
Further criminal activity included an August 4, 2021 shootout with unknown individuals which led Clemons to enter a stranger's home through a window while carrying a stolen firearm.
Clemons was arrested on December 8, 2021 by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Unit with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. During his arrest, he was found with another firearm and made threats against law enforcement officers.
The sentencing memo described Clemons as having engaged in criminal activities for two decades prior to his arrest. His past offenses include resisting-arrest convictions dating back to age sixteen and domestic abuse incidents resulting in severe harm to his former girlfriend.
Mark Zito from ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City commented on the case stating: “This was a career criminal with no regard for human life and demonstrated a willingness to terrorize communities with violence.” He emphasized that such offenders would face serious consequences under their investigations.
Clemons pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges including carjacking and possession of firearms as well as ammunition by a convicted felon.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and several others across Missouri. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Matthew Martin prosecuted the case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
