‘This can’t happen to anyone else’

ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – The loved ones of a St. Louis man killed in a Christmas Day shooting at a gas station say they’ll never feel the same about the holiday.

Scheron Courson says the last conversation she had with her brother, 68-year-old Albert Willis, was filled with holiday cheer. He called on Christmas Day to invite her for dinner, but the meal never came.

“I spoke to my brother at 12 o’clock that day, and at 2, he’s dead? I don’t even know what to say,” Courson said.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police were called to a BP gas station just after 2 p.m. last Thursday, where they found Willis with several gunshot wounds. He later died at the hospital.

Willis’ family says they were told by witnesses that there was an argument between the 68-year-old and a man and a woman before the shooting.

“My uncle probably didn’t have a doubt in his mind that he was going to get home to his family on Christmas to open gifts, talk and laugh,” said Willis’ niece, Jordan Pippin.

Albert Willis, 68, was killed in a Christmas Day shooting at a gas station where he was a regular customer.(Source: KMOV)

Willis’ daughter, who asked not to be identified, says going to the gas station where he was killed was part of the 68-year-old’s daily routine.

“He would eat boiled eggs and oatmeal and head out to play his lottery numbers,” she said. “His favorite number was 58-58. He would tell everyone to play this number because he knew it would come in.”

She also said he had been battling cancer.

“To know he had to fight in his last moments after having to wake up every morning and fight just to get through the day hurt so bad,” she said.

It was not the only loss for the family in 2025. Relatives say Willis’ granddaughter, 29-year-old Trinity Staten, died in October after she was allegedly shot by her boyfriend while getting into a rideshare.

“This can’t happen to anyone else. It shouldn’t have happened to us,” Pippin said.

Loved ones say Willis was a well-known community car salesman. His former boss, Danielle Windmueller, says he was dedicated to his work and stuck with her through many business endeavors. She is now fundraising to help support his family.

“Albert would come in, he’d work a 9 to 6, we’d talk about everything. We talked about our kids. We talked about everyday life,” Windmueller said. “Albert was the hardest worker I ever met in my life.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to support Willis’ family.

Police are asking for help locating the man and woman wanted for the fatal shooting of Albert Willis.(St. Louis Metropolitan Police)

Police are asking for help locating the man and woman wanted for Willis’ shooting.

The wanted woman is described as a Black woman between 27 and 30 years old, of medium build, 5′2″ to 5′4″, with a light complexion and long black hair.

The wanted man is described as a Black man between 30 and 35 years old with a thin build, 5′6″ to 5′8″, dark complexion and with “twisties” short to medium hair.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Homicide Division directly at 314-444-5371. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous and is interested in a possible cash reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).