On June 1, 2017, a violent multiple homicide occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, claiming the life of 37-year-old male Julian Hayes. The shooting took place near the intersection of Lillian Avenue and Beacon Avenue in the Walnut Park West neighborhood. Hayes was sitting in a parked vehicle along with 24-year-old Jessica Garth and 27-year-old Derrick Irving when a gunman approached the car and opened fire on the occupants. The attack resulted in the deaths of Hayes, Garth, and Irving.
Two young children were also in the vehicle at the time; a 7-year-old girl was critically wounded after being shot in the head but survived, while her 5-year-old sister was unharmed, reportedly because the older sibling shielded her from the gunfire.
Police investigators identified the suspect as Jerome Leon Buress Jr., a St. Louis resident. Following the incident, Buress became the subject of a manhunt but eventually surrendered to authorities later in June 2017. He was arrested and charged with three counts of murder, armed criminal action, and assault. Prosecutors alleged that Buress walked up to the victims' car and shot Garth and Irving in front of their daughters before shooting Hayes as he attempted to escape the vehicle.
The case went to trial in October 2018. Jurors heard testimony about the shooting, including an account from the surviving 5-year-old child. On October 11, 2018, the jury found Buress guilty of eight felonies, including two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, and assault. In January 2019, a circuit court judge sentenced Buress to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life incarcerated for the triple slaying.
