One man was killed and three other people were wounded at Ramona Lake.
BERKELEY, MO — A man has been charged with murder after a Thursday evening shooting at a birthday gathering at Ramona Lake killed one person, wounded three others and sent people fleeing from a park scene that included a car in the water.
St. Louis County prosecutors charged Devion J. Sneed with first-degree murder in the death of Lamonte Keys, according to court records reported Friday. Sneed also faces eight other charges tied to the shooting, including two counts of first-degree assault, four counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and stealing a firearm. He was being held on a $600,000 cash-only bond.
The shooting happened about 5:20 p.m. Thursday at Ramona Lake in Berkeley, where police said family and friends had gathered for a birthday event. Officers were first called for a report of two people shot. When they arrived, police found another person who had been shot and also found a car submerged in the lake. Police said the gunfire followed an argument among friends. Berkeley police said three men and one woman were shot during the violence.
Two wounded people were taken to a hospital by ambulance, police said. Another victim drove himself to a hospital. The female victim tried to drive herself for treatment but crashed at Hanley Road and Springdale Avenue, according to police. Authorities have not released full details on the conditions of the three surviving victims. Officials also have not said whether more suspects are being sought or whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
The scene spread beyond the shooting area as people tried to get away. Police said one driver tried to flee after shots were fired but accidentally put the vehicle in reverse, sending it into Ramona Lake. A man and an infant were also inside the car, police said. All three got out of the vehicle. The crash and the submerged car drew emergency crews to the park as police worked to secure the area and sort out how many people had been injured.
Ramona-Mathison Lake Park sits in Berkeley, a north St. Louis County city near St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The park’s lake and open grounds are used for gatherings, making the late-afternoon shooting especially visible to people in the area. Police have described the event as a birthday gathering that turned violent after a dispute. The public record available so far does not identify the person whose birthday was being marked or say how many people attended.
The murder charge marks the first major court step in the case. First-degree murder is the most serious homicide charge in Missouri and is generally tied to an allegation that a killing was deliberate. The other charges reflect accusations that more than one person was assaulted and that a gun was used during the crimes. Sneed’s bond was set at $600,000 cash only. Court records listed the charges Friday, but the next hearing date was not immediately clear from the reports available.
Police said the first emergency call reported two shooting victims, but the count changed as officers found more evidence and more injured people. The final total released by police was four shooting victims: three men and one woman. Keys was identified as the person killed. Officials have not released the names of the wounded victims. Investigators are expected to rely on witness statements, medical records, shell casings, vehicle evidence and any video from the park or nearby roads as they build the case.
The shooting left a birthday gathering marked by scattered emergency responses: ambulances at the park, a crash at Hanley and Springdale, a vehicle in the lake and hospital trips by multiple victims. Police said the violence began with an argument, but they have not publicly described what the dispute was about. The case now moves through St. Louis County court while Berkeley police continue the investigation.
Author note: Last updated May 30, 2026.