In the spring of 2021, a burst of gunfire in north St. Louis County tragically ended the life of 17-year-old Damaurion Williams. On the afternoon of April 6th, police responded to a ShotSpotter activation and reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of Territory Court. Upon arrival, they discovered an apparent crime scene, but no victim or suspect was present. A short time later, a vehicle pulled into a Mobil gas station on Jennings Station Road, carrying four individuals.
Two of the occupants, Williams and another 17-year-old male, had sustained gunshot wounds.
Both teenagers were rushed to a local hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Damaurion Williams was pronounced dead. The second victim was admitted in critical condition. The investigation that followed connected the scene at the gas station to the earlier reports of a shooting on Territory Court, painting a grim picture of the events that had transpired.
The investigation into the shooting led to a significant breakthrough a month later. On May 4, 2021, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued warrants for 19-year-old Jaylin Williams. He was charged with Murder in the First Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Tampering with Physical Evidence in a Felony Prosecution, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. According to the probable cause statement, Jaylin Williams shot at the vehicle occupied by Damaurion Williams and three others. During an interview with authorities, he admitted to being the shooter and to disassembling the firearm used in the incident and disposing of it in an unknown body of water. Jaylin Williams was subsequently taken into custody and held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.
