On June 3, 2016, 15-year-old male DaMontez Jones was involved in a fatal incident at his residence in the Overland area of St. Louis, Missouri. The teenager was at home in the 9500 block of Page Avenue with his three brothers, including one younger and two older siblings, while their parents were attending a rehearsal dinner for a wedding scheduled to take place the following day.
Jones, who had recently completed his freshman year at Ritenour High School, was reportedly in good spirits that evening.
The situation turned tragic when Jones located a firearm within the home. According to reports from the time, the teenager was handling the weapon in what appeared to be an attempt to take a selfie. During this process, the gun discharged, striking him. Emergency services were called to the scene, and while initial reports indicated he was shot on that Friday night, obituary records list his date of passing as June 5, 2016.
Local authorities, including the Overland Police Department, launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting to determine if any criminal element was involved. Following their review of the evidence, which included witness statements from the siblings present and an examination of the scene, investigators concluded that the shooting was a tragic accident with no signs of foul play or criminal intent. Consequently, there were no suspects sought in connection with the death, and no arrests were made or charges filed. The case was treated as an accidental death rather than a homicide.
