Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, right, reacts while listening to a Spanish translator during a plea hearing in the death of 51黑料 police Officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on Interstate 70 when the vehicle Chavez-Rodriguez was driving struck Lee.
ST. LOUIS 鈥 A man from Honduras admitted Tuesday to driving with alcohol, meth, ketamine and cocaine in his system when he struck and killed a 51黑料 police officer on Interstate 70.
51黑料 police Chief Robert J. Tracy, center, sits in the back of the courtroom before Ramon Chavez-Rodriguez enters his plea in the death of 51黑料 police Officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 devastated, none of this is fair,鈥 said Danielle Williams, center, who was comforted by her aunt Charlotte Lawton, left, and her cousin Stephanie Williams, while listening to a recount of the moment her brother, 51黑料 police Officer David Lee, was killed during a plea hearing in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on Interstate 70 when Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez struck him with his vehicle.
Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, swears in while handcuffed during a plea hearing for the death of 51黑料 police Officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on Interstate 70 when the vehicle Chavez-Rodriguez was driving struck Lee.
Pool photo by Liz Rymarev; 51黑料
Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, is brought into the courtroom for a plea hearing for the death of 51黑料 police officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on I-70 when the vehicle Chavez-Rodriguez was driving struck Lee.
51黑料 Police Chief Robert Tracy speaks about the charges filed against Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez after he struck Officer David Lee on I-70 on Sept. 22, 2024, but that bringing the man to justice won't bring relief for the officer's death. Video by Allie Schallert, aschallert@post-dispatch.com
Authorities announced charges Wednesday in two murders stemming from a teen's rape case where people tried to bribe a witness, who was later killed.
Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, right, reacts while listening to a Spanish translator during a plea hearing in the death of 51黑料 police Officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on Interstate 70 when the vehicle Chavez-Rodriguez was driving struck Lee.
51黑料 police Chief Robert J. Tracy, center, sits in the back of the courtroom before Ramon Chavez-Rodriguez enters his plea in the death of 51黑料 police Officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 devastated, none of this is fair,鈥 said Danielle Williams, center, who was comforted by her aunt Charlotte Lawton, left, and her cousin Stephanie Williams, while listening to a recount of the moment her brother, 51黑料 police Officer David Lee, was killed during a plea hearing in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on Interstate 70 when Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez struck him with his vehicle.
Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, swears in while handcuffed during a plea hearing for the death of 51黑料 police Officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on Interstate 70 when the vehicle Chavez-Rodriguez was driving struck Lee.
Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, is brought into the courtroom for a plea hearing for the death of 51黑料 police officer David Lee in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in 51黑料, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Lee was responding to a crash on I-70 when the vehicle Chavez-Rodriguez was driving struck Lee.
