Spanish Lake man convicted in shooting death of his ex-girlfriend
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – A Spanish Lake man was found guilty Thursday of killing his ex-girlfriend and shooting her mother.
Jurors in St. Louis County Circuit Court convicted 23-year-old Dairius Kinnie in the death of 19-year-old Tianna Baker.
Prosecutors said Kinnie shot and killed Baker on March 24, 2021. He also shot and injured her mother, then ran away from the police as they chased him.
The state called multiple witnesses to the trial: a daughter who saw the shootings but wasn’t injured, as well as several detectives, police officers, crime lab technicians, and the medical examiner.
The jury heard a ShotSpotter recording that showed Kinnie paused after beginning to shoot and then started shooting again, clear evidence of deliberation. He shot Tianna Baker more than a dozen times.
ShotSpotter is a device that hears gunshots and uses acoustic sensors to find illegal gunfire and immediately notify law enforcement and security staff.
“The courage and composure this mother and her daughter, who saw their loved one brutally murdered, showed on the witness stand left our trial team in awe of their strength and resilience. It’s bringing justice for everyday heroes like them that makes our work so rewarding,” said St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell.
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