MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – U.S. Marshals and Memphis Police captured 18-year-old Demario Wilson two days ago and charged him with murder in the death of a Missouri father.
Authorities say the robbery turned shooting all happened over a gaming system, but the significant other of the man he’s accused of killing tells Action News 5, a different story.
Wilson is charged two counts of first degree murder and other robbery charges for the killing Homero Pena, Jr.
Pena came down to Memphis with someone he thought was a friend.
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His significant other tells Action News 5 she believes he was set up.
“I didn’t find out until later on that night what really happened to him,” said Kaitlyn Puga, Homero Pena’s significant other.
Kaitlyn Puga’s life hasn’t been the same since the father of her children was killed April 18th.
“He was really a good father,” said Puga. “The kids I guess they know that he’s gone now. That was everything to them.”
Kaitlyn and Homero Pena, Jr. had been dating since the fifth grade and share two daughters together with a third on the way.
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Memphis Police say 18-year-old Demario Wilson shot and killed Pena at Summit Arbors Circle near Covington Pike.
Puga says Pena and a friend drove from Kennett, Missouri to Memphis to exchange this car with Harris and others, but she urged him not to go.
“I believe that he told the dudes from Memphis, that Hermero took the car and basically took him down there, basically was a set up.”
U.S. Marshalls say a witness claims the shootout began over a gaming system but Puga doesn’t believe that and an affidavit from Memphis Police paints a different picture.
According to the affidavit, Harris shot Pena five times.
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Harris and two other people took car keys, a phone and cash from Pena after shooting him.
The affidavit also says the friend who was with Pena was also robbed of this phone and a Dodge Charger.
Police knew who Wilson was a witness identified him in a lineup, according to the affidavit.
He was arrested by the U.S. Marshall’s May 21st.
Wilson has an extensive criminal history. Police say he was arrested in November 2023 for a string of car thefts in East Memphis and running from police.
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Court records show that case was dismissed by Judge Bill Anderson.
Wilson was then charged for several vehicle burglaries that same month. Court records show he was indicted in March 2024, an arrest warrant was issued.
Wilson was charged May 21st for shooting up an apartment with a handgun with an extended magazine, that allegedly happened on May 14, after police took him into custody for Homero Pena’s murder.
Memphis Police tell Action News 5 there is an arrest warrant out for a second suspect.
Meanwhile Kaitlyn and Homero’s are hoping for more arrests and information for this case as they continue to grieve.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – It’s been a little over one week since Missouri’s lawmakers called it quits for the year, but that doesn’t mean they’re all happy with what was accomplished, or what was not accomplished.
Artificial intelligence continues to spread into every area of our lives, and it’s largely unchecked by government regulations.
In Missouri, 100 bills were passed this year, but none of them regulate the use of artificial intelligence. Over a dozen ideas on how to regulate AI were presented by lawmakers, but all the bills died before the end of the regular legislative session.
State lawmakers cannot explore AI or data center regulations again until the new legislative session starts in January 2027.
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AI regulations are popular with Missouri voters. Only 16% of Missouri voters polled by YouGov and SLU believe recent AI innovations had a positive effect on society. Regulating artificial intelligence is also popular with both parties.
Bolivar Republican Rep. Christopher Warwick wants to see protections for children.
“My heart is is to make sure that we’re protecting our kids. We want to protect Missourians in general, but when the AI starts affecting our kids,” Warwick said.
While St. Louis Democratic Sen. Doug Beck says we need to make it clear what is and isn’t AI.
“That can be very scary, and some of the things they can do with it, you don’t know what’s real and what isn’t real,” Beck said.
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The explosion of AI is leading to more and more data centers, including many projects here in Missouri. Though many in Missouri are currently fighting to keep data centers from their neighborhoods, their growth is something Gov. Mike Kehoe appreciates.
“As President Trump said, AI is the space race of our time. And certainly Missouri wants to be involved in that race and wants to continue to lead,” Kehoe said at an event in Montgomery County to celebrate a new Google data center.
President Trump issued an executive order telling states to rely on federal AI regulations, but Congress is on a summer vacation without having passed any AI bills.
The executive order President Trump put out says funding for rural broadband could be at risk if state lawmakers don’t align with his plan. A Utah lawmaker was told by the Trump administration that his bill doesn’t fit into their AI plan.
The executive order reads, “United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation. But excessive State regulation thwarts this imperative. First, State-by-State regulation by definition creates a patchwork of 50 different regulatory regimes that makes compliance more challenging, particularly for start-ups.”
Two Affinia Healthcare employees were recognized for their work in community health during the recent Community Health Workers Association of Missouri conference.
Candace Henderson, Affinia’s director of community health, received the organization’s Individual and Community Capacity Building Award after being nominated in eight categories. Henderson leads a team of community health workers who connect residents with health screenings and other services.
Naila Hudson, a community health worker with Affinia, received the Individual and Community Assessment Award. Her duties include coordinating mobile mammography events, conducting health screenings and assisting with the organization’s food pantry.
