On the evening of June 1, 2017, in the Walnut Park East neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, a tragic violent event claimed the lives of three adults. Derrick Irving, a 27-year-old African American male, was seated in a parked vehicle along with 24-year-old Jessica Garth and 37-year-old Julian Hayes when they were ambushed. The shooting occurred near the intersection of Lillian Avenue and Oriole Avenue.
Inside the car with the adults were Irving and Garth’s two young daughters, aged 7 and 5.
The assailant, later identified as Jerome Leon Buress Jr., approached the vehicle and opened fire on the occupants. Derrick Irving and Jessica Garth were struck by gunfire and killed in front of their children. Julian Hayes attempted to escape the vehicle but was fatally shot by the gunman as he tried to flee. During the attack, the 7-year-old daughter, Deniya Irving, was shot in the head. She survived the initial assault but was left in critical condition and suffered permanent brain damage as a result of her injuries. Her younger sister was physically unharmed but witnessed the deaths of her parents.
Investigators quickly identified Jerome Leon Buress Jr., a 28-year-old St. Louis man, as the primary suspect. He was arrested and charged later that month in connection with the triple homicide. Authorities revealed that Buress had targeted the victims, though a specific motive was not widely publicized beyond the personal nature of the execution-style attack. He faced multiple felony charges, including three counts of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
In October 2018, a jury in St. Louis found Buress guilty on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Irving and Garth, one count of second-degree murder for the death of Hayes, and several other charges related to the assault on the child and the use of a weapon. The surviving daughter, despite her severe injuries, was able to provide testimony that contributed to the conviction. On January 3, 2019, Jerome Leon Buress Jr. was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would remain incarcerated for the remainder of his life for the murders.
