Man Involved in Fatal Robbery of St. Louis County Cab Driver Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri Byline: Robert Patrick Dateline: St. Louis, Missouri Date: 17 April 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime, Taxicabs & Limousines Topic: Dewight Price

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man involved in the fatal shooting of a cab driver in Hazelwood, Missouri in 2022 to 17 years in prison. 

Coron Dees was one of four teens who robbed Dewight Price, 54, at gunpoint on April 24, 2022. All four have pleaded guilty and three await sentencing. 

Dees, now 20, Jeremiah Allen, 20, and Trishawn Jones, 19, each pleaded guilty to a robbery charge. Jones and Tywon Harris, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting in the commission of a murder. 

After leaving a party in downtown St. Louis, the four teens stopped at a gas station in the 700 block of North Tucker Boulevard. At 5:23 a.m., Harris called for a taxi. They planned to take the taxi to a fake address near Allen’s home, then run away without paying. After learning that they would have to prepay for the ride, the teens began discussing plans to rob Price.

They told Price to drive to Hazelwood Central High School, thinking there would be no witnesses there at that time.  When they arrived, Dees and Jones pulled out firearms and demanded cash from Price. Price begged the teens not to shoot him. After Price handed cash to Jones, he grabbed a firearm he kept in his door. Allen warned the others that Price had a gun.  Price began to get out of the cab, but Harris opened his door, knocking Price to the ground.

Jones saw Price’s firearm and fired once, hitting Price in the torso. The teens then ran away.

Allen and Jones are scheduled to be sentenced in May and Harris’ sentencing is scheduled for July. 

The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel is prosecuting the case.

Robert Patrick, Public Affairs Officer, robert.patrick@usdoj.gov.

Updated July 18, 2024