Teen charged as an adult after Lake St. Louis girl, 15, killed in St. Charles in February

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (KMOV) - A 16-year-old has been charged as an adult with second-degree murder, attempted robbery and armed criminal action after the shooting death of 15-year-old Lydia Elking.

Alex L. Mason, 16, from St. Charles, was moved from juvenile court after being initially charged in February with another teenage co-defendant involved in the Feb. 18 robbery.

A third teenager was arrested in March after Elking was shot and killed. Police said this teen was Elking’s 17-year-old boyfriend.

The two other teens were previously arrested in St. Louis County and charged in connection to the girl’s death.

St. Charles police responded to a shooting at 8:50 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hospital on February 18. There the officers discovered Elking and a 17-year-old boy who were reportedly robbed in the area of Oak Avenue and Perry Street by two suspects.

The week following, police arrested two boys, 16 and 17. Both are facing juvenile charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Both are being held in St. Charles County. The gun believed to have been used in the shooting was seized from a home in St. Charles, police say.

Police said the victims were approached by two boys who announced a robbery and pulled out a handgun, eventually shooting into the vehicle and hitting the 15-year-old. The 17-year-old boy in the car with Elking told officers they were told to meet in the area where the robbery occurred. He has now been charged in the incident as well.

Police allege the 17-year-old with Elking had been in contact with the other two boys on a previous occasion to sell them drugs. He was driving the car Elking was in that night. He has been charged with two counts of distributing a controlled substance near a school and second-degree murder. He is being held in the Boone County Juvenile Detention Center.

“So it’s not a random act of violence, these people were directed there, and that matter is still actively being investigated,” Lt. Tom Wilkison with St. Charles Police Department said in the aftermath of the killing.

In doorbell camera video, given to News 4 by a neighbor, you can hear a gunshot just after 8:30 p.m. that night. Shortly after, you can see a person run across Perry street and scamper behind some houses.

That video also shows two people walking toward the shooting minutes before the gunfire could be heard. The owner of the video said she also gave the footage to St. Charles police.

The 17-year-old boy with Elking drove to the hospital, where he called in the robbery to police. Elking died at the hospital from her wounds. Police said they spoke to the boy, of Lake St. Louis, in the days after Elking was killed. Nearly a month later, he became the third person charged in Elking’s death.

The incident occurred on a street considered by some to be quiet.

“It’s a very friendly, safe place,” said Christie Selvidge, whose mother lives in the neighborhood.

Several neighbors said this isn’t the first time a shooting occurred near that intersection, even showing us a bullet hole from another shooting.

This is an active investigation. Anyone who may have information is urged to contact the St. Charles Police Department at 636-949-3309. News 4 will update this story as we learn more.

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