Two Pacific teenagers have been charged in the shooting death of an 18-year-old Eureka High School senior, according to the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.
Kiley Kennedy of Eureka was found dead Wednesday morning (Dec. 1) lying next to a vehicle near the Victoria Gardens mobile home community north of Pacific in Franklin County, authorities reported.
The Major Case Squad arrested two 16-year-old males Thursday night (Dec. 2), and the Franklin County Family Court has charged each of them with second-degree murder. The two teens are being held at the St. Charles County Family Court Detention Facility, the Major Case Squad reported.
Authorities would not release the teens’ names because they are juveniles.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office was called at about 7 a.m. Wednesday after the body was seen on the ground near the mobile home community at Hwy. 100 and Country Aire Lane.
Major Case Squad Lt. Tom Wilkison said deputies discovered Kennedy lying face down and shot once in the upper right side of her chest.
Kennedy reportedly agreed to meet the two teens and had an altercation over narcotics and money, and she was shot during the altercation, Wilkison added.
He said the two teens live near where Kennedy’s body was found. He said the two did not attend Eureka High, but Kennedy knew them
Wilkison said authorities found a 9mm handgun believed to be the murder weapon.
Franklin County Sheriff Steven Pelton said Kennedy’s death is a tragedy.
“It’s tragic when a life is lost in general, but to have someone so young and the suspects being young it’s really disheartening,” he said.
Rockwood School District Board of Education president Jamie Bayes read a statement about the teen’s death during Thursday night’s board meeting at Rockwood Summit High School.
“We will continue to wrap our arms around each other and work together to heal as a community,” Bayes said.
Eureka High Principal Corey Sink said counselors were available to students at the school today (Dec. 3).
“The sudden death of a student can be overwhelming,” Sink said in an email. “I know our hearts are heavy, and in times like these, we are hurting and confused. EHS is a close, caring community that loves each other like family.”
This is the second time in the last month the Rockwood district has dealt with the loss of a student. In November, Rhegan Sajben, 15, and Jacob Keifer, 15, who both attended Marquette High School, died in a crash in Ballwin, police reported.
Cole Anello, 18, who was a sophomore at De Smet Jesuit High School, also died in the accident, and two other Marquette High students were seriously injured, authorities reported.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit Kennedy’s family. The page is called “Go Fund Me For Kiley K.,” and as of last this afternoon, $3,055 had been donated.