ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Two men were charged Thursday for their roles in a shooting outside the St. Charles Convention Center that left one man dead.

According to Lt. Daniel Gibbons, a St. Charles Police Department spokesman, the shooting happened just after 8 p.m. at 1 Convention Center Boulevard.

Police arrived at the scene and discovered a white Chevy Malibu had crashed into a tree. Four people were near the vehicle, three of whom had been shot.

When they arrived, they found the crashed car and four people near the vehicle, three of them suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims did not require immediate medical care. The other two victims were rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Malibu, identified as Terrell Peete, died at the hospital. Peete was 19.

Witnesses told investigators they saw two people running from the scene and going into a nearby residence. Police went to the home and got both men to surrender.

Police claim Gabriel J. Patterson of St. Charles told investigators that he and another person were meeting Keonta T. Hardin of Moline Acres to trade firearms.

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Patterson said Hardin was sitting in the rear passenger seat of the Chevy Malibu when the vehicle pulled up in the parking lot. Police claim Patterson handed a black Glock pistol to Hardin, who was supposed to turn over a tan Glock pistol in exchange.

However, police claim Hardin pointed the tan pistol at Patterson. Patterson took out an AR-style pistol from a side pocket and began shooting at the Malibu. Peete sped off but almost immediately crashed.

Hardin was treated for a gunshot wound to his arm. According to police, Hardin informed them that a third party had arranged the trade and that Hardin anticipated meeting that person in the convention center parking lot.

After the Malibu crashed, Hardin allegedly took a bag containing the guns and currency and hid the bag in a nearby bush.

The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Patterson, 18, with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, five counts of armed criminal action, and three counts of first-degree assault.

Hardin, 18, was charged with second-degree murder and stealing a firearm.

Both men are being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

St. Charles police are still investigating the shooting and are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact detectives at 636-949-3300.

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