ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO – In a tragic and infuriating example of senseless violence, 18-year-old Steven Martin Jr. has been charged in the deadly road rage shooting that took place on May 31, 2025, near the 8700 block of Jennings Station Road. The incident, which unfolded in the middle of the day and just feet from a local fire station, claimed the life of Caleb Matlock and left an entire community asking—why?
On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office formally filed the following charges against Martin:
- Murder in the First Degree
- Three counts of Armed Criminal Action
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Shooting at/From a Motor Vehicle, resulting in injury or death)
- Tampering with Physical Evidence in a Felony Prosecution
What Happened: A Red Light Turns Deadly
According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons, Matlock and a second passenger were sitting at a red light near North County Fire and Rescue when Martin pulled up next to them in another vehicle.
Surveillance footage from the fire station captured the chilling moment: as the light turned red, Martin pulled alongside Matlock’s car and immediately began firing. Multiple shots were discharged into the vehicle, and Caleb Matlock was hit in the chest. He did not survive. The second occupant was physically unharmed but left emotionally shattered.
A Deliberate Act, Not a Mistake
This wasn’t a tragic accident. It wasn’t self-defense. It wasn’t mistaken identity.
According to the probable cause statement, Steven Martin Jr. confessed to the shooting during a recorded post-Miranda interview. He acknowledged that he knew the vehicle was occupied, that he never saw a weapon inside, and that he fired anyway. Police later confirmed no weapons were found in Matlock’s vehicle.
After the shooting, Martin reportedly altered the appearance of his car to avoid identification: painting the rims, removing dealership markings, and ditching the license plate bracket in what prosecutors are calling an attempt to tamper with evidence and obstruct justice.
Facing Justice
Martin was arrested, charged, and is now being held on a $750,000 cash-only bond—a stark reminder of how quickly youthful arrogance can turn into irreversible tragedy.
This case is a painful example of a disturbing trend: young lives thrown away over momentary anger, a gun pulled before words are even exchanged, and an entire community paying the price for one reckless act.
“Y’all Just Love Throwing Your Lil Lives Away…”
That was the gut-wrenching reaction from one community member who echoed what many were thinking. So many futures—destroyed in the blink of an eye. Caleb Matlock, a young man with promise, is gone. His loved ones are left grieving. And now, Steven Martin Jr., barely an adult, faces a lifetime behind bars.
“This didn’t need to happen,” another resident wrote. “You don’t settle road rage with bullets. This ain’t a video game.”
Where We Go From Here
As Martin awaits trial, St. Louis County continues to grapple with youth violence, gun access, and the heartbreaking aftermath of reckless choices. Matlock’s name joins far too many others lost to this kind of violence—where justice, while necessary, never truly fills the void.
If you have any additional information about the case, authorities encourage you to contact the St. Louis County Police Department.
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