25 Years for St. Louis Gunman Darnell L. Clemons

ST. LOUIS – In a landmark case, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced 38-year-old convicted felon Darnell L. Clemons to 25 years in prison for a string of violent crimes, including armed carjacking, shooting and domestic abuse.

Clemons, a self-proclaimed ‘one-man crime wave,’ terrorized the St. Louis community with his relentless pursuit of violence. His crimes left a trail of traumatized victims and shattered lives.

On May 16, 2018, Clemons and his nephew robbed and carjacked the manager of a University City, Missouri restaurant. Clemons stole the victim’s 2015 Toyota Corolla, cash and phone after placing a handgun to her forehead and stomach.

Fast forward to July 29, 2021, when Clemons’ nephew spotted a gun in a bag belonging to a customer at a Florissant, Missouri gas station and convenience store. The ensuing struggle led to a shooting, resulting in permanent injury to the victim.

The crimes continued with a shootout on August 4, 2021, in the O’Fallon neighborhood of St. Louis. Clemons jumped through a stranger’s window, leaving police to find a stolen 9mm pistol with the slide locked back and no ammunition. He initially lied to police, claiming the gun was planted.

Clemons’ violent history dates back 20 years, with convictions including a carjacking at a church and resisting-arrest charges dating back to age 16. His former girlfriend penned a heart-wrenching letter to Judge Autrey, detailing months of domestic abuse and the miscarriage of their unborn child.

Clemons’ crimes sparked a massive manhunt, culminating in his arrest on December 8, 2021. He was found with a loaded 9mm Glock and a large capacity drum magazine. In a chilling statement, Clemons threatened to kill an officer and their mother.

“This was a career criminal with no regard for human life and demonstrated a willingness to terrorize communities with violence,” said Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City.

Clemons pleaded guilty in January to one count of carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University City Police Department, and the Florissant Police Department collaborated in the investigation.