Davell A. Horton, a 29-year-old from St. Louis County, pleaded guilty on May 4 in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm after fleeing police in a stolen vehicle.
Horton was on supervised release for a previous carjacking conviction when he was found with a fully automatic handgun following a police pursuit and crash. The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address violent crime and illegal firearms possession.
According to court documents, officers from the St. Louis County Police Department identified an Infiniti G37 without license plates matching the description of a stolen car on July 15, 2024. Horton, who was driving the vehicle, failed to stop for police and led them on an extended chase through north St. Louis County before crashing into a light pole. After the crash, both Horton and his passenger fled on foot; Horton left behind a .45-caliber Glock with an auto sear device that converted it into a fully automatic weapon.
At the time of his arrest, Horton had recently served part of a 70-month sentence for carjacking imposed in January 2021 and was under supervised release. He now faces up to 15 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for August 10.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri investigates and prosecutes federal crimes such as terrorism and fraud while enforcing civil rights; it collaborates with law enforcement agencies to prevent crime and improve community quality of life across its jurisdiction of 49 counties according to its official website. The office operates under the United States Department of Justice as stated online and uses facilities including the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis as noted by officials.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which combines resources from several Department of Justice initiatives aimed at combating violent crime.
