St. Louis man pleads guilty to carjacking and gun brandishing charges

 ST. LOUIS – Lorenzo Young, 21, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Young appeared, today, before United States District Court John A. Ross.

On June 7, 2020, Young and a co-defendant approached a victim in the 7300 block of Hazelcrest in St. Louis County to take a 2013 Chrysler 200 at gunpoint from that victim. Young was armed with a loaded Charter Arms .38 caliber firearm as he and the co-defendant approached the victim. Young brandished the firearm and demanded the victim’s car keys. The victim complied with the demand. Young and the co-defendant entered the Chrysler and drove away.

The victim called Hazelwood Police to report the carjacking. As the victim talked with police at the scene, the victim observed the stolen Chrysler drive past the 7300 block of Hazelcrest and the victim alerted police. Officers from multiple jurisdictions pursued the stolen Chrysler at high speeds for approximately 10 miles. Young was driving the stolen Chrysler.

Young crashed the vehicle while fleeing police near the intersection of New Halls Ferry and Riverview in the City of St. Louis. Officers took Young and his co-defendant into custody, and recovered the firearm used in the carjacking.

Judge Ross has set Lorenzo Young’s sentencing for August 25, 2021. 

Young’s co-defendant is awaiting trial and is presumed innocent of the charges.

The Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.