Man charged in 2023 fatal shooting in downtown St. Louis

ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man was arrested last week and charged over the weekend in connection with a fatal 2023 shooting downtown.

According to probable cause from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting occurred on the afternoon of November 1, 2023, in the 1400 block of Market Street. Police found the victim, Deanthony Smith, 46, suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower leg. EMS took Smith to the hospital for treatment, but Smith refused to provide police with a statement about the shooting.

On March 1, 2024, the St. Louis Medical Examiner's Office contacted the city's homicide division to inform them that Smith died in the hospital on November 26, 2023 as a result of “homicide due to complications of a gunshot wound.”

Police say investigators identified Derrick Rodgers, 32, as the shooter.

Rodgers was arrested on May 24. At the time of his arrest, Rodgers was in possession of two handguns and a shotgun.

On May 25, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Rodgers with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Rodgers remains in custody without bail.