FROM STAFF REPORTS

Three people have been charged in a series of armed carjackings, including one that authorities say resulted in the death of former Lindenwood football player and sprinter Jaz Granderson.

Floyd Barber, 22, Jherrica Dixon, 23 and Kurt Wallace, 25, each of St. Louis, were indicted in a 10-count federal indictment Thursday, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

According to officials, between August and October 2017, Barber, Dixon and Wallace participated in at least five armed carjackings. On Oct. 16, Granderson, 27, was shot and killed shortly before 1 a.m. near the 5100 block of Minnesota while the three were carjacking Granderson’s 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Witnesses told police at the time of the crime that they heard gunshots and a car speeding away. Avenue. Granderson was found wounded and unconscious and was then taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.   

“This is a series of vicious and senseless crimes,” U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen said in the release. “We just doubled the number of violent crime prosecutors in this office so people who commit carjackings and armed robberies in the city of St. Louis can expect very aggressive prosecution by this office and the circuit attorney’s office.” 

If convicted of the charges, the three could be sentenced to death or life in prison. 

While at Lindenwood, Granderson was a defensive back for the football team during the 2012 season. According to Lindenwood Athletics, Granderson was a two-time all conference selection at Kirkwood High School. In the spring of his senior year, Granderson was also a sprinter for Lindenwood.

Granderson was most recently employed as an assistant football coach at Desmet High School in Creve Coeur.