You walk into a piece about a community shaken by violence and find the facts up front. A teenager has been arrested after gunfire broke out during a funeral service in Ferguson, leaving multiple people injured and prompting a fast police response. This post breaks down what happened at the service, who was charged, and how authorities are handling the incident.
They’ll follow the timeline of the shooting at the Cotten-Branch funeral home, explain the immediate chaos and injuries reported, and outline the charges and potential legal consequences facing the suspect. Expect clear, concise coverage that connects the incident to broader public-safety concerns in the St. Louis area.
The Ferguson Funeral Home Shooting Incident
A private funeral service at Cotten-Branch Funeral Home turned violent, leaving multiple people injured and attendees fleeing. Ferguson police quickly identified a suspect and began an investigation that collected evidence around the mortuary and parking lot.
Timeline of Events at Cotten-Branch Funeral Home
The service for 19-year-old Steffon Marmon was underway shortly before noon when shots rang out inside the Cotten-Branch facility. Hundreds of mourners attended because the service had been rescheduled from Saturday due to a snowstorm.
Witnesses described immediate panic: people ducked under pews, others rushed for the exits, and some fled into the parking lot. Officers from the Ferguson Police Department arrived within minutes and found a chaotic scene with people scattered across the lot and in nearby streets.
Investigators later placed numerous evidence markers outside the funeral home and noted multiple vehicles with bullet damage. Police detained several persons of interest while the investigation focused on who fired the shots and why the dispute that preceded the gunfire escalated so quickly.
Details of the 911 Call and Police Response
Ferguson dispatch received 911 calls reporting shots fired at the funeral home and a large crowd in distress. Callers described multiple victims and people running from the building. The Ferguson Police Department prioritized an immediate response; officers reached the scene in under three minutes according to statements from Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle.
Chief Doyle relayed that first responders encountered “complete chaos” and requested additional medical units. Officers secured the interior and exterior, checked victims, and began preserving the scene for evidence collection. Multiple firearms were recovered, and detectives later worked through the day processing the Cotten-Branch location and interviewing witnesses.
Number of Victims and Injuries Reported
Police and local news reports confirmed six people sustained injuries connected to the incident. Three individuals suffered gunshot wounds; their injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Two others sustained cuts from shattered glass, and one person was struck by a vehicle while fleeing the parking lot.
Authorities have emphasized that the tally reflects injuries both from projectiles and collateral harm during the scramble to escape. Medical personnel treated victims on scene and at nearby hospitals. Officials continue to update counts as more statements and medical reports become available.
Chaos and Community Reactions
Mourners and funeral home staff described the scene as traumatizing and shocking, with employees reporting they felt shaken by violence unfolding during a service. Archbishop Michael West, a senior funeral director at Cotten-Branch, said staff were disturbed by the breach of a traditionally sacred setting.
Community members expressed anger and sorrow, noting the funeral was meant to honor Steffon Marmon. Local coverage highlighted broader concerns about youth violence and public safety in Ferguson. The arrest of a 19-year-old in connection with the shooting prompted calls for accountability while police continued to investigate motives and the events that led to the eruption of gunfire.
The Arrest and Legal Consequences
Police arrested a 19-year-old man after officers say he fled the funeral scene and was found inside a nearby restaurant. Authorities recovered at least one altered firearm and booked him on multiple weapons-related charges.
Suspect Deangelo Taylor’s Capture and Charges
Officers located Deangelo Taylor inside a restaurant after witnesses reported seeing him run from the funeral home parking lot. He allegedly tried to flee when officers approached; during the arrest a Glock modified with a switch that can make it fully automatic reportedly fell from his pocket.
Taylor faces charges that stem directly from the scene: armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a weapon, and unlawful use of a weapon. A judge set bond at $250,000 cash-only, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations.
Court filings and the probable cause statement describe eyewitness accounts of Taylor pointing a firearm toward the funeral crowd before fleeing. Police say these accounts informed the decision to pursue the specific charges listed above.
Weapons Recovered and Armed Criminal Action
Police recovered a Glock that had been altered with a device described in reports as rendering the weapon capable of fully automatic fire. The modification increases potential lethality and figures prominently in the armed criminal action allegation.
Armed criminal action typically charges a defendant for committing another felony while using or possessing a weapon; prosecutors will seek to tie Taylor’s possession and alleged use of the altered Glock to the shooting incident at the funeral.
If convicted, armed criminal action carries enhanced penalties beyond standalone weapons charges, and prosecutors may pursue those enhancements because witnesses and officers link the firearm to the disturbance and injuries at the service.
Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Legal Proceedings
Unlawful use of a weapon charges address both possession of a prohibited firearm or modification and the manner in which it was employed or presented. Prosecutors will rely on the altered Glock, eyewitness testimony, and any surveillance or forensics to prove that Taylor unlawfully used the weapon during the incident.
Legal proceedings will include arraignment, pretrial motions, and potential evidence hearings on the admissibility of witness statements and the weapon’s forensic analysis. Defense attorneys may challenge identification, chain of custody for the firearm, or claim the defendant lacked intent to fire at specific targets.
Given the cash-only $250,000 bond and the nature of the charges, the case will likely proceed through multiple hearings before any plea or trial, with penalties if convicted ranging from prison time to additional sentencing enhancements for the firearm modification.
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