Murder charges have been dropped against two men accused in the death of a 19-year-old in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Prosecutors have dismissed murder charges against two men accused in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old as he played video games in his north St. Louis home.

Marshean Barnett and Dasean Barrow, both 20, were charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in May and June 2023, respectively, in connection with the death of Derrick Johnson. This week, the St. Louis District Attorney’s Office decided to drop prosecutions against both men.

First Alert 4 has reached out to District Attorney Gabe Gore’s office and is awaiting a response.

A contact number for Barrow’s attorney could not immediately be found. Defense attorney Robert Taaffe Jr., who represented Barnett, told First Alert 4 that prosecutors made the right decision in dropping the charges.

“Mr. Barnett did not know that one of the passengers in the car was about to commit murder when he drove them to his cousin’s house, was not in the same room when the shooting occurred, and had no idea what had happened when he drove away,” Taaffe said.

According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police, Johnson was playing video games at his home in the 4900 block of Lehay Avenue on May 29 when a suspect entered the home and shot him. Police said one person witnessed the shooting but fled the scene when shots were fired.

Within a week of his death, Barnett and Barrow were arrested and charged. Both were held at the St. Louis Justice Center pending trial. Barnett was released on Thursday.

Barrow was transferred to the St. Louis County Jail in September to await trial on charges of first-degree assault, attempted first-degree robbery and firearms offenses filed in December 2022.

Details of these allegations were not available at press time.

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