Messing Around in the Wrong Neck of the Woods: Violent Crime, Child Endangerment, and a Fatal Police Chase Shake St. Louis County

Messing Around in the Wrong Neck of the Woods: Violent Crime, Child Endangerment, and a Fatal Police Chase Shake St. Louis County

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO — What began as a violent home invasion turned into a deadly police chase that has left one man dead, a community stunned, and a 22-year-old suspect facing a long list of serious felony charges. Authorities say Ivyon Houston has been charged in connection with a string of violent crimes that unfolded across multiple locations on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in what prosecutors described as a reckless and dangerous sequence of events.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has formally charged Houston with:

• Assault in the First Degree or Attempt – Serious Physical Injury or Special Victim
• Two counts of Armed Criminal Action
• Burglary in the First Degree
• Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the First Degree
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
• Unlawful Possession, Transport, Manufacture, Repair or Sale of an Illegal Weapon
• Aggravated Fleeing a Stop or Detention

According to the probable cause statement, the violence began when Houston shot the victim in the foot inside the victim’s own residence. After initially fleeing the scene, Houston returned a short time later, kicked in the door, and entered the home again — this time armed with a firearm and demanding the return of a weapon used in the earlier shooting.

During this second intrusion, he threatened the occupants of the home — including the original shooting victim — while two young children were present, putting them at severe risk. Authorities noted that the presence of the minors escalated the charges to include child endangerment in the first degree.

But the chaos didn’t end there.

Houston reportedly returned a third time, now accompanied by his 27-year-old brother, Brian Sonnier. By the time St. Louis County Police officers from the North County Precinct responded to the escalating situation, Houston and Sonnier were still at the scene.

As officers attempted to detain the men, Houston fled in a vehicle at a high rate of speed, leading police on a pursuit that would ultimately end in tragedy. The chase came to a violent conclusion when the fleeing vehicle crashed in St. Louis City. Houston survived the crash, but his brother, Brian Sonnier, was killed as a result of the impact.

Adding yet another layer of danger, police discovered that during the course of these events, Houston was in possession of a firearm equipped with a silencer — an illegal modification under both state and federal law.

The St. Louis County Police Department has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and that additional charges may be forthcoming as evidence continues to be processed.

A Community on Edge

Residents in the neighborhood where the initial shooting occurred expressed shock and fear in the aftermath of the violent incidents. “We saw flashing lights, people screaming, and then all of a sudden it was like the whole street was swarming with police,” said one neighbor. “Knowing there were little kids in that house while all that happened — it’s just sickening.”

Houston’s alleged actions not only endangered the lives of those within the home, but also innocent people on the road during his high-speed flight from authorities. The fact that the situation ended in a fatal crash only underscores the danger and recklessness involved.

Legal Consequences Loom

Now behind bars, Ivyon Houston faces the potential of decades in prison if convicted on the full slate of charges. Prosecutors say the combination of violent assault, child endangerment, illegal weapons possession, and the death of his accomplice during the flight from law enforcement make this one of the most egregious and dangerous cases they’ve handled in recent months.

“Mr. Houston showed a complete disregard for human life,” said a spokesperson from the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. “His actions not only caused physical harm and emotional trauma but ultimately led to the death of his own brother. This community deserves to feel safe in their homes, and this kind of violence simply will not be tolerated.”

Houston remains in custody as he awaits trial. A bond hearing is expected in the coming days.

Final Thoughts

What was supposed to be an ordinary Sunday in St. Louis County quickly spiraled into a horrifying sequence of events — a stark reminder that some people, when they come looking for trouble, end up messing around in the wrong neck of the woods. For Ivyon Houston, that choice has now cost his freedom, endangered innocent lives, and taken the life of his own brother.

The case is a chilling example of how quickly violence can escalate — and how, in a matter of moments, lives can be forever changed.