An Illinois man has pleaded guilty to charges related to an assault that occurred on the grounds of Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis. Darrion Lamont Evans, 20, from Belleville, Illinois, admitted in U.S. District Court to one count of assault by strangulation and two counts of interstate domestic violence.
According to court documents, Evans was dating the victim at the time of the incident on April 28, 2025. The plea agreement states that a dispute began while they were inside a car in Belleville. During this argument, Evans grabbed the woman by her neck and pushed her head into the driver’s side door, causing her glasses to break. A bystander contacted emergency services.
Evans then told the victim he would drive her to her mother’s house in Dupo before heading to his grandfather’s home in St. Louis via rideshare. However, instead of taking her to Dupo as promised, Evans drove directly toward his grandfather’s residence. When the victim realized this change in plans, she tried pulling on the emergency brake and grabbing the steering wheel to force Evans off the highway.
After stopping on a service road near Gateway Arch National Park, their argument escalated further. "Evans admitted choking the victim, slapping her and spitting on her," according to details from prosecutors. Some of these actions were captured on video evidence.
National Park Service Rangers found the victim near a vehicle with visible injuries including red marks on various parts of her body and finger injuries.
Sentencing for Evans is set for June 3. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison and 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.
