St. Louis County prosecutors have officially charged 22-year-old Torriono Baker in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred earlier this year at a Steak ’n Shake restaurant on Bellefontaine Road. The tragic incident, which unfolded at a busy drive-thru location, claimed the life of one employee and injured another, leaving family members, coworkers, and the surrounding community shaken by the violence.
According to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Baker now faces multiple serious charges, including first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities say the shooting happened on April 8, 2026, at the Steak ’n Shake located at 11035 Bellefontaine Road.
Court documents state that Jada Bell drove a white SUV to the restaurant drive-thru before an argument reportedly began over a food order involving an employee identified as C.M. Investigators allege that Baker, who was inside the SUV at the time, acted together with Bell and fired multiple rounds from a handgun into the restaurant during the confrontation.
Officials say employee C.M. was struck several times during the gunfire and tragically died from the injuries. A second employee was also wounded after being struck in the hand by gunfire during the terrifying incident. The sudden violence left coworkers and witnesses traumatized as emergency responders rushed to the scene following reports of shots fired at the restaurant.
Investigators revealed that portions of the shooting were captured on the restaurant’s surveillance cameras, providing important evidence in the case. Authorities later discovered that Baker had purchased a .45 caliber Glock handgun in February 2026. Detectives eventually recovered a firearm with the same serial number near the home of one of Jada Bell’s relatives. Prosecutors stated that ammunition and shell casings recovered from the crime scene matched the caliber and headstamps connected to the recovered weapon.
Baker is currently being held on a $600,000 cash-only bond with no 10% option as the investigation and prosecution continue moving forward. Meanwhile, loved ones continue mourning the loss of C.M., whose life was tragically cut short during what prosecutors describe as a senseless act of violence. The case has also renewed concerns throughout the St. Louis County community about workplace safety and the devastating impact gun violence continues to have on families, employees, and neighborhoods.
