The events leading to the tragic loss of life unfolded on the evening of October 28, 2015, in the Bevo Mill neighborhood of Saint Louis, Missouri. Haris Hajdarevic, a 22-year-old Bosnian male, was accompanying his friend, James Cobb, to a residence on the 4400 block of Taft Avenue. Cobb had asked Hajdarevic to join him for support as he attempted to visit his young son, who was in the custody of his former girlfriend.
The situation at the home quickly escalated when the two men arrived at the location, leading to a violent confrontation with the woman's current partner.
As the interaction turned deadly, shots were fired into the vehicle occupied by the two friends. Police officers responded to the scene on that Wednesday night to find both men suffering from fatal gunshot wounds inside the car. Despite the arrival of emergency services, they were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident sent shockwaves through the local community, marking another violent loss in the area during that period.
Detectives launched an immediate investigation into the double homicide, quickly identifying a person of interest linked to the domestic dispute. By the following morning, authorities had taken a suspect into custody. Rey Hernandez, who was 19 years old at the time, was identified as the shooter. The investigation revealed that Hernandez was the current boyfriend of the woman involved in the custody matter and had opened fire on the victims when they came to the house.
Following his arrest, the Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Hernandez with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action. In the wake of the violence, details emerged about Hajdarevic’s life to paint a picture of the young man lost. He was described by those who knew him as a dedicated truck driver and a skilled computer technician who was well-liked by his peers, having simply been in the wrong place while trying to be a good friend.
