ST. LOUIS COUNTY, a late-night shooting at a Steak ’n Shake restaurant in North St. Louis County left one employee dead and another injured following a dispute in the drive-thru, according to police.
Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department’s North County Precinct were dispatched at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after receiving reports of a shooting at a location near Bellefountaine Road and Interstate 270.
When officers arrived, they found two employees inside the restaurant suffering from gunshot wounds.
An adult female employee, identified by family members as 32-year-old Chauncia La’Shell Meekins, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second victim, an adult male employee, sustained gunshot injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is receiving treatment for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Initial findings suggest the shooting resulted from a confrontation in the drive-thru involving restaurant employees and individuals inside a vehicle.
During the dispute, an occupant of the vehicle allegedly fired a weapon through the drive-thru window, striking both employees inside the business.
Witnesses reported that the altercation may have been related to a food order, although investigators have not confirmed specific details.
Family members said Meekins had been working at the restaurant for about three months and had spoken with relatives during a break earlier that evening, just hours before the incident.
The suspect or suspects fled the scene, and no arrests have been made so far.
Detectives continue to investigate the case and are asking anyone with information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through CrimeStoppers, where callers may be eligible for a reward.
