OLIVETTE, MISSOURI (KMOX) - The Major Crimes Unit announced an arrest in Monday's shooting death of an innocent motorist on Interstate 170 near Olive. 30-year-old Calvin Pittman of Ferguson is charged with first-degree murder for the death of 46-year-old Kristen Whitten of Bridgeton. Olivette Police Chief David Wolff thinks they have their man, saying, "We did serve a search warrant at the suspect's home and were able to recover the gun. I don't want to talk specifically about ballistics, but we do have the firearm." The Chief went on to say, "I am one-hundred percent confident that he is the person who fired the round that killed Kristen."
Perhaps surprisingly, the motive for the gun battle between two vehicles on the Innerbelt appears to have been road rage. A person the Chief calls a "good Samaritan" came forward to identify a possible vehicle, and investigators canvassed the area until they found it. As for the second vehicle involved, police have not announced a description, if they have one.
The victim's brother, Fred Whitten, expressed gratitude on behalf of the family. "I want to congratulate St. Louisans near and far, because this is something that the community helped with." Pittman is being held in lieu of $500-thousand bond.
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