Shakeela Martin was killed outside a Ferguson gas station while buying slushies for two of her children, police said.
FERGUSON, Mo. — Three men have been charged in the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old mother of five who police say was struck by gunfire outside a Ferguson gas station while she was buying slushies for two of her children.
Marcus Evans, 21, Kyren Farmer, 21, and Jontez Young, 19, each face a second-degree murder charge in the June 30 death of Shakeela Martin, according to Ferguson police and local reports. Authorities also charged each man with first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action and a charge related to firing a weapon from a motor vehicle. The charges are allegations, and the men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Police said Martin went to a BP gas station near South Florissant and Woodstock roads shortly before midnight with two of her children, ages 9 and 6. She had gone inside to buy them slushies and was walking out of the store when gunfire came from a nearby vehicle. Martin was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was wounded in the shooting and later released from the hospital.
Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle said investigators determined Martin was not involved in the dispute that preceded the shooting and was not believed to have been an intended target. Authorities said an argument involving someone else had occurred before shots were fired. Police have not publicly identified the intended target or announced a specific motive for the gunfire.
Martin’s death drew particular attention because her children were with her when she was shot. Doyle described her as a mother who had simply gone to the store to care for her children. Her family said she had been preparing to move them into a new home the following day, according to a fundraising page created after her death.
Investigators said surveillance footage helped them identify a Chevrolet Malibu connected to the shooting. Ferguson police also said cellphone data helped investigators trace the three defendants to the vehicle they believe was involved. According to reports citing authorities, Evans acknowledged being inside the Malibu, while Farmer allegedly told investigators he was driving. Those statements are part of the allegations in the case and have not been tested at trial.
Authorities also said ammunition found during the investigation was consistent in brand and caliber with shell casings recovered from the shooting scene. Police have not publicly given a complete account of who they believe fired each shot or detailed the role allegedly played by every person in the vehicle.
Evans was being held on a $2 million cash-only bond after charges were announced, while Farmer and Young were each being held on $2.5 million cash-only bonds, according to Ferguson police and local reports. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said her office assigned two senior prosecutors to the case.
The arrests were announced Aug. 3, more than a month after the shooting. Police said assistance from other area law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation. Authorities also installed surveillance equipment at the gas station as detectives continued looking into violence in the area.
Police have said the investigation remains active and additional arrests are possible. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a final motive or identified the person they believe was the intended target. The criminal cases against Evans, Farmer and Young remain pending.
Author note: Last updated August 11, 2026.