ST. LOUIS (AP) - A man accused of participating in the attempted holdup a St. Louis pizza delivery man has been charged with second-degree murder after the delivery man shot the other robber.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 24-year-old Montel Contrell Smith, of Jennings, is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.
Police say that Smith and 17-year-old Lavon Courtney Jr. approached the delivery driver Thursday night. Police say Courtney struck the delivery man in the head with a gun and shot at him as he tried to run back to his car.
Authorities say the delivery driver then returned fire, striking and killing Courtney. The delivery driver's only injury was a cut to his head. Police say the shooting appeared justified.