Kurt Wallace, Armed Carjackings, Missouri 2023

Kurt Wallace, a 30-year-old St. Louis man, admitted to a series of violent crimes that left one dead and multiple injured. According to a plea agreement, Wallace was involved in the armed carjacking of a 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the 300 block of Walsh on September 16, 2017, during which he shot the driver in the shoulder.

The next day, Wallace carjacked a Cadillac CTS in the 5800 block of Kennerly in St. Louis. During the carjacking, Wallace shot the driver in the leg. The following day, Wallace was involved in the armed carjacking of a Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven by Jaz Granderson, a football coach at De Smet Jesuit High School. Wallace fatally shot Granderson during the carjacking.

Wallace was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2017 and detained in jail pending trial. While in custody, Wallace escaped from a jail on July 15, 2019. After escaping, Wallace and fellow inmate James Flannel carjacked a vehicle and led police on a multi-jurisdiction pursuit until Wallace crashed and flipped the vehicle.

As part of the plea, both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of 60 years in federal prison. The guilty plea concludes a joint investigation by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into a series of violent crimes committed by Wallace and others during the fall of 2017.

Wallace is the seventh individual convicted in connection with that investigation; the others include Floyd Barber, 28, Jherrica Dixon, 30, James Flannel, 43, Jerell Henderson, 33, Larenta Jones, 30, and Stephan Jones, 33.

Wallace is set to be sentenced on December 12, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White. The plea agreement includes the following charges: four counts of carjacking, two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of carjacking, one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of carjacking resulting in death, and one count of escape.

With a total of 60 years in federal prison recommended, Wallace faces a significant prison term for his crimes. The case is a reminder of the severity of violent crimes and the importance of law enforcement's efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/st-louis-man-admits-involvement-armed-carjackings-jail-escape-and-fatal-shooting-de