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Steak 'n Shake worker shot and killed in drive-thru confrontation over food
Chauncia La'Shell Meekins had only been working at the restaurant for three months before the attack
A late-night dispute over a fast-food order turned deadly on Wednesday, when a female employee was shot and killed while working the drive-thru window at a Steak 'n Shake.
Chauncia La'Shell Meekins, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene on Bellefontaine Road after a confrontation with customers in a vehicle escalated into violence.
St. Louis County Police reported that an unknown individual inside the car fired a weapon through the service window, striking Meekins and an unidentified male coworker.
The male employee was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but the community is currently reeling from the loss of Meekins.
Her mother, Tamela Washington, expressed her disbelief to local news outlets, noting that her daughter was a hardworking woman who was just weeks away from celebrating her 33rd birthday on 23 April.
"Instead of celebrating her birthday, I will be burying my daughter for some senseless act over some onion rings," Washington told KMOV.
Meekins had only been employed at the restaurant for approximately three months at the time of the incident.
As of Friday, the shooter remains at large, and investigators have not yet released a description of the suspect or the vehicle involved.
The St. Louis County Police Department is actively seeking information from the public and has urged anyone with leads to contact their Bureau of Crimes Against Persons or provide an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers.
The senseless nature of the crime—reportedly sparked by a disagreement over a side order—has prompted renewed calls for safety measures for late-night service workers across the region.
