Saint Louis, MO – Johnzell Moorehead, 30, of Saint Louis, MO, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.  Wines appeared today before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who imposed the sentence. 

According to court documents, Moorehead and an associate, Daryaun Wines, were travelling inside a vehicle in the early morning hours of October 12, 2017.  Earlier that day, Moorehead and Wines had been involved in an altercation with another individual resulting in that individuals being shot. 

Concerned about possibly retaliation from that earlier shooting, Moorehead and Wines were being followed by two additional associates who were in a separate vehicle.  Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Federal Officer Archie Shaw was on-duty and, as part of an on-going investigation into drug distribution activity, began to follow the second of the two vehicles.  Special Federal Officer Shaw was utilizing an unmarked law enforcement vehicle. 

Moorehead and Wines noticed Special Federal Officer Shaw’s vehicle.  Moorehead and Wines split-up from their other associates (who were being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw).  The vehicle being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw intentionally led Special Federal Officer Shaw to the intersection of Miami and Iowa streets within the City of Saint Louis.  As Special Federal Officer Shaw drove through the intersection, Wines and Moorehead shot Special Federal Officer Shaw.  Wines and Moorehead traveled to that location for the purpose of committing the shooting.

Special Federal Officer Shaw’s vehicle was struck several times by the gunfire.  Special Federal Officer Shaw himself was also struck by gunfire.  After being shot, Special Federal Officer Shaw was able to drive himself to safety.  Moorehead and his associates fled the area.

“Officer Shaw has shown great courage throughout this investigation and during his almost 30 years of service and dedication to the citizens of St. Louis. The St. Louis Police Department appreciates the continued support and assistance we’ve received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and all our federal partners in this case,” state Chief John Hayden, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

"The importance of Officer Archie Shaw to this community can be understood by law enforcement’s relentless and wide ranging response in the immediate aftermath of his October 12, 2017, shooting and throughout the almost three years since the incident occurred,” said Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Rea after today's proceeding. 

Rea continued, “Law enforcement has held Mr. Moorehead and Daryaun Wines accountable for their actions.  In the course of doing so, officials also dismantled an entire drug organization resulting in five additional federal prosecutions.  That is a total of seven federal prosecutions arising out of the shooting of Officer Shaw.  Offense conduct such as this cannot and will never go unchecked by the United States Attorney’s Office.  We hope that these sentences of 25 years for Mr. Moorehead and 17 years for Mr. Wines make that clear.” 

The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigated this case. 

Saint Louis, MO – Daryaun Wines, 27, of Saint Louis County, MO, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.  Wines appeared today before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who imposed the sentence. 

According to court documents, Wines and an associate, Johnzell Moorehead, were travelling inside a vehicle in the early morning hours of October 12, 2017.  Wines and Moorehead were being followed by two additional associates who were in a separate vehicle.  Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Federal Officer Archie Shaw was on-duty and, as part of an on-going investigation, began to follow the second of the two vehicles.  Special Federal Officer Shaw was utilizing an unmarked law enforcement vehicle. 

Wines and Moorehead noticed Special Federal Officer Shaw’s vehicle.  Wines and Moorehead split-up from their other associates (who were being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw).  The vehicle being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw led Special Federal Officer Shaw to the intersection of Miami and Iowa streets within the City of Saint Louis.  As Special Federal Officer Shaw drove through the intersection, Wines and Moorehead shot Special Federal Officer Shaw.  Wines and Moorehead traveled to that location for the purpose of committing the shooting.

Special Federal Officer Shaw’s vehicle was struck several times by the gunfire.  Special Federal Officer Shaw himself was also struck by gunfire.  After being shot, Special Federal Officer Shaw was able to drive himself to safety.  Wines and his associates fled the area.

"We cannot lose sight of the many threats awaiting dedicated members of law enforcement every day.  FBI Special Federal Officer Shaw is the paramount example of a courageous officer dedicated to his work and community.  He is lucky to be alive, and we are so grateful that he is.  This was an unconscionable ambush.  Today’s stiff sentence makes clear that this type of conduct will never go unchecked by the Department of Justice," said Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Rea after today's proceeding.

Moorehead will be sentenced on February 13, 2020.

The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigated this case.

St. Louis, MO - Johnzell Moorehead, 29, of Saint Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.  Moorehead appeared today before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for December 6, 2019.

According to the plea agreement and among other things, Moorehead, his girlfriend, and an associate, Daryaun Wines, were travelling inside a vehicle in the early morning hours of October 12, 2017.  The group was being followed by two additional associates who were in a separate vehicle.  Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Federal Officer Archie Shaw was on-duty and, as part of an on-going investigation, began to follow the second of the two vehicles.  Special Federal Officer Shaw was utilizing an unmarked law enforcement vehicle.  

Moorehead noticed Special Federal Officer Shaw's vehicle.  Moorehead, his girlfriend, and Wines split-up from their other associates (who were being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw).  The vehicle being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw led Special Federal Officer Shaw to the intersection of Miami and Iowa streets within the City of Saint Louis.  As Special Federal Officer Shaw drove through the intersection, Moorehead and Wines shot Special Federal Officer Shaw.  Moorehead and Wines travelled to that location for the purpose of committing the shooting.

Special Federal Officer Shaw's vehicle was struck several times by the gunfire.  Special Federal Officer Shaw himself was also struck by gunfire.  After being shot, Special Federal Officer Shaw was able to drive himself to safety.  Moorehead and his associates fled the area.

Under the firearm charge, Moorehead faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison.  In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.  As part of the plea agreement, the parties have agreed to recommend a 25-year sentence at the time of Moorehead’s sentencing.

In addition to Moorehead’s conviction, this on-going investigation into the shooting of Special Federal Officer Shaw also resulted in the federal convictions of Daryaun Wines; Paris Gordon; Don Collins; Joseph Paster; Clifton Hudson; and Darlene Calhoun.  

“Police Officer Shaw has provided nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Saint Louis.  The courage he exhibited in this incident, demonstrates his level of commitment to the protection of the community,” said Chief John Hayden, Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department.  “The Saint Louis Police Department truly appreciates the support and assistance we receive from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and all our federal partners.”

"Mr. Moorhead and Mr. Wines ambushed FBI Special Federal Officer Shaw as he was simply doing his job, a dangerous job requiring courage and dedication.  When any officer is threatened or attacked, the Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable anyone directly or indirectly involved.  We hope Mr. Moorehead’s case, along with the other individuals charged and convicted during the course of this on-going investigation makes that clear,” said Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Rea after today's proceeding. 

The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is investigating this case.