Crystal City, MO – A Crystal City man is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting another man and attempting to hijack his vehicle during a violent altercation captured on surveillance video, authorities said.

According to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Keshawn Elijah Box, age 22, of Crystal City, has been charged with first-degree robbery and vehicle hijacking in connection with the June 2 incident. On August 8, 2025, an arrest warrant with a $50,000 bail was issued by the Jefferson County Circuit Court.

The initial incident occurred on June 2, 2025 at approximately 12:55 p.m. in the 200 block of Olive Street in Crystal City. Surveillance footage obtained by Crystal City Police allegedly shows Box physically attacking the victim, identified only as Victim 1, both inside and outside a silver 2019 Chevrolet Silverado.

Crystal City Police said Box struck the victim multiple times in the upper body and face with closed fists. At one point, he entered the driver’s side of the truck, shifted it into drive, and moved the vehicle forward approximately two feet in what officials believe was an attempt to take control of it. He later moved the vehicle back into its parking space after briefly interacting with a witness at the passenger window.

Box then reportedly refused to allow the victim to re-enter the vehicle and was heard making threatening statements, including a threat to retrieve a firearm. Crystal City Police say he then retrieved an object consistent in size and shape with a handgun, wrapped in a black zip-up jacket. When the object fell to the pavement, it reportedly made a metallic sound consistent with a firearm.

Prosecutors allege Box threatened to “beat” the victim and take a bag from him, and his actions constituted a “substantial step” toward committing robbery in the first degree. The attempted robbery and vehicle hijacking charges are classified as class B and class A felonies, respectively.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

See Full Bio