701 S.W.2d 429 (Mo.Banc 1985)

Mose Young was executed at 12:04 a.m., April 25, 2001.

Audio: Interview with Mose Young
following the stay of his execution on July 12, 2000. Young spoke with
The Missourinet’s Brent Martin from his holding cell. At the time of
the interview, Young did not know whether his execution would be
carried out.

Case Facts: On February 8, 1983 Mose Young entered a pawn shop in St. Louis to pawn a gold plated stickpin. Mr. Lee Raseover, the owner of the shop, told Young the pin was worthless and threatened to call the police and have him arrested for stealing by deceit. A heated exchange ensued with both men pushing each other. Mr. Rascover pulled a gun from a holster on his hip and ordered Young to leave.

Mr. Pascover then telephoned one of his partners at a different shop and warned him of Young’s attempt to pawn the stickpin and the altercation that took place. Young showed up at the second shop and tried to pawn the stickpin for several thousand dollars at which time his offer was refused. Young left the shop after another argument and an attempt to take some jewelry he had asked to examine.

Sometime later Young returned to the second shop carrying a rifle. At the time there were four persons at the shop including an employee Romaell Bennett, Sol Marks, Mr. Raseover’s grandfather, James Schneider, a partner of Mr. Rascover’s, and Kent Bicknese, a billboard salesman. As Young entered the store with the rifle Mr. Bennett sent Mr. Marks to the rear of the store because he feared there might be trouble.

As Young entered the store he pointed the rifle at Mr. Bennett and fired a shot which hit and killed Mr. Bicknese who was standing in front of Mr. Bennett. At that moment Mr. Schneider emerged from his office and Young turned, fired a shot and killed him.

Mr. Bennett retreated with Mr. Marks to the back of the store. Mr. Marks tripped and Mr. Bennett left him and went to the basement where he hid in the vault. While in the basement Mr. Bennett tripped an alarm. Mr. Bennett testified that he heard Young ask Mr. Marks where Mr. Bennett was. After that Mr. Bennett reported hearing two more gun shots. Mr. Bennett also heard Young yell down the steps, “Where are you?”

Mr. Bennett remained in the vault until he heard police radios. The bodies of Mr. Bicknese and Mr. Schneider were found in the lobby area of the store and the body of Mr. Marks was found in a hallway leading to the rear of the building. The top of the jewelry counter had been smashed and almost all of the jewelry was gone. There was $576.00 in cash missing from the cash registers as well as the victims wallets.

Mose Young was born in St. Louis. Missouri on December 25, 1955.