William Warden, 26, of Imperial has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a St. Louis bar owner – James Wors, 54, of Oakville.
Warden is accused of intentionally running over Wors and another man early Nov. 12 outside the Bomber O’Brien Bar, after an alleged fight inside the business, which spilled out into the parking lot, St. Louis Metropolitan Police reported.
St. Louis Police got a call just after midnight about a fight at the bar, 4621 Beck Ave., and someone being hit by a vehicle on the parking lot.
Wors and a 37-year-old man had been hit by a Chevrolet Cruze and were transported to an area hospital, St. Louis Police reported.
Wors died at the hospital, and the other man suffered a broken ankle and ribs, according to the probable-cause statement in the case.
During the alleged bar fight, Warden allegedly punched a 38-year-old man, breaking the man’s orbital bone. The 38-year-old was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated and released, authorities reported.
Police did not list the home towns for the 37-year-old and 38-year-old men who were injured.
After the fight, Warden reportedly got into the Cruze, along with a 25-year-old man, a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, and then Warden allegedly drove the car onto the sidewalk in front of the bar, hitting Wors and the 37-year-old man. Wors fell onto the car’s hood and hit the windshield, according to the report.
Warden reportedly drove the Cruze about 50 feet with Wors on the hood before he fell off. Then, Warden allegedly drove over Wors, with both the Cruze’s front and back tires running over him, according to the report.
The Cruze was abandoned in the 4800 block of Oleatha Avenue, about 1 mile from the bar. The woman and 25-year-old man were found with the car and arrested, and the 23-year-old man was found later and arrested, St. Louis Police said.
St. Louis Police said they will seek fourth-degree assault charges against the two other men and woman, who were in the car with Warden.
Warden turned himself in to homicide detectives, the report said.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Warden on Nov. 12 with first-degree murder, a class A felony; first-degree assault, a class B felony; third-degree assault, a class E felony; and two counts of armed criminal action, unclassified felonies, court records show.
If convicted, Warden could be sentenced 10 to 30 years or life in prison for the class A felony, and he could be sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for the class B felony. A class E felony carries a penalty of up to four years in prison, and the unclassified felonies are punishable by three to 15 years in prison.
Warden was in St. Louis Police custody this morning (Nov. 15). No attorney was listed for him in court documents.