Show-Me State Times

A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a fatal shooting during a drug deal in University City, St. Louis. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark handed down the sentence to Nathaniel Anthony Brown-Shatto, aged 22, who was implicated in the shooting after believing that a man had used counterfeit money to purchase marijuana.

Brown-Shatto was part of a trio involved in selling marijuana and had previously informed the others that the victim had bought marijuana from him using fake currency. On February 19, 2022, the group was armed and traveling together when they went to meet the victim at his home on Birchmont Drive after he contacted Brown-Shatto for more marijuana. Carlos Albert Castellanos Jr., also 22, drove the vehicle with Brown-Shatto as the passenger and another accomplice in the back seat.

As per their plea agreements, when the victim exited his house, Brown-Shatto fired at him with a handgun while another member of their group shot through the sunroof with an AK-style rifle. Investigators recovered 22 spent casings from both weapons at the scene.

Three days later, police stopped Castellanos and Brown-Shatto in a car matching descriptions from witnesses. They were found armed with handguns and carrying approximately one pound of marijuana.

Brown-Shatto admitted guilt to charges of knowingly discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime resulting in death. Castellanos has confessed to conspiracy related charges involving firearms but is yet to be sentenced.

Ruth Mendonça, Inspector in Charge leading Chicago Division which includes St. Louis Field Office stated: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to protect the nation’s mail system... Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including the victim in this case who tragically lost his life.”

The third suspect involved, Emanuel Benito Vasquez also aged 22, remains at large facing similar charges including marijuana conspiracy and firearm discharge during drug trafficking crimes. He has not been arrested yet and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation into this case was conducted by University City Police Department alongside U.S. Postal Inspection Service.