Double homicide in Riverview, charges issued

CLAYTON, Mo. – The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on a suspect in regards to the December 3rd double homicide on Wednesday.

On December 3, 2018, at approximately 2:35 pm, officers from the Riverview Police Department responded to the 300 block of Bluff Drive for a call for service regarding a “suspicious vehicle.”

Upon their arrival, officers reported that they located a deceased adult male and a deceased adult female inside a vehicle.

The Riverview Police Department requested assistance from the St. Louis County Police Department at approximately 3:08 pm. The investigation then became led by the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons and was classified as a double homicide.

The deceased female was positively identified as Michele Laws, 43 years of age, and the deceased male was identified as Igor Zhukov, 47 years of age.

Both victims lived at the 9800 block of Greenery Lane in St. Louis, Mo. 63132. They both died as a result of at least one gunshot wound.

Police reported that the couple had been reported missing to the Olivette Police Department. They had last been seen on November 28, 2018.

In addition to the identification of the victims, the police also shared that the couple had been located in a black 2010 Nissan Senta, which was found at the bottom of a secluded ravine off of the roadway. The vehicle was the same one that was broadcasted when Laws and Zhukov had been reported missing.

Deonta Johnson (ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)
Deonta Johnson, 22 years of age, of the 4600 block of San Diego in St. Louis, Mo. 63121, was charged on Wednesday for two counts of Murder in the First Degree, two counts of Robbery in the First Degree and four counts of Armed Criminal Action. He is being held without a bond.

The probable cause statement reads as follows:
Victims Igor Zhukov and Michele Laws met the defendant at a pre-arranged location to conduct a business transaction involving cell phones. The Defendant attempted to steal the victims’ property, which caused an auto accident to occur. The Defendant then, after deliberation, shot both victims in their heads. He admitted all of the above to the police. A total of four shell casings were found inside the victims’ vehicle. After murdering both victims, the Defendant and an accomplice then stole property from both victims.

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