Employee shot, killed inside Maryland Heights Dobbs

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. (KMOV) – Shock and disbelief follows the shooting inside the Dobbs Tire and Auto in Maryland Heights Wednesday, which ended with a 52-year-old man dead.

“It’s not normal,” Maryland Heights Resident Rick Sullivan shared. “It’s kind of crazy. I’ve lived here eight years. This isn’t something you expect to happen.”

Maryland Heights police confirmed that the man was arguing with a co-worker before the fatal shooting at the business on Dorsett Road. When first responders arrived on the scene just before 11 a.m., they pronounced the man dead. He was later identified as Reginald Brandy, 52.

“I was shocked at first,” Dawson Sullivan said. “At first, I didn’t believe you.”

DeShawn Johnson, 23, was taken into custody at the scene. He has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

The identity of the victim has not yet been released.

"The victim or the suspect, these were people not on our radar," Maryland Heights Police Chief Bill Carson said.

Chief Carson said the call came in just before 11 A.M., and his officers were on the scene two minutes later. Officers said they found a 52-year-old man dead on the shop floor, shot multiple times. Police said employees identified Johnson as the person who pulled the trigger.

“This does not happen in Maryland Heights on a regular basis,” Chief Carson shared. “But there is no community completely immune from acts of violence.”

Investigators revealed the two Dobbs employees got into an argument, but it’s still unclear what the disagreement was over.

Police said Johnson had the gun on him at the time of the shooting.

"There are so many guns on the street. Everyone is carrying guns now," Chief Carson said. "A lot of arguments that would have just been arguments at one point, now escalate to shootings.”

Johnson is in jail on a $1 million cash-only bond. Meanwhile, some Maryland Heights residents say this isolated incident won’t keep them away from visiting the area.

“It’s a good place to live,” Rick Sullivan said. “It’s unfortunate something like this happens over something that’s“It’s probably ridiculous.”

Dobbs did not immediately respond on what their company policy on guns is.

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