In a tragic turn of events on a warm June evening in St. Louis, a young mother lost her life in a senseless act of violence. Twenty-three-year-old Jessica Paxton was fatally shot on Sunday, June 12, 2016, during what police described as an attempted robbery. The incident unfolded in the Dutchtown neighborhood, leaving a family and community to grapple with the sudden and violent loss.
That night, Jessica was in a vehicle with a 25-year-old man and her 2-year-old son.
They were in the 5000 block of Spring Avenue when three male suspects approached their car and, brandishing a firearm, announced a robbery. In a desperate attempt to escape the dangerous situation, the driver of the vehicle sped away. It was then that one of the assailants opened fire on the fleeing car, a single bullet striking Jessica. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, her injuries proved to be fatal. Miraculously, her young son and the male companion were not physically harmed in the incident.
The investigation into Jessica's death led to the arrests of two suspects. Davante Lindsey, 19, was the first to be charged in connection with the murder on June 15, 2016. Shortly after, on June 22, 19-year-old Datwon Thompson was also charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery for his involvement in Jessica's death. Thompson faced additional charges related to the separate shooting death of John Jerome Moore, which had occurred just three days prior to Jessica's murder. Thompson was held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
