On the night of July 11, 2015, authorities were called to a residence in the St. Louis suburb of University City, Missouri, following reports of a home invasion. The victim, identified as 34-year-old Dionzon Devres, was an African American male who lived at the home on the 1500 block of Jackson Avenue. Police officers arriving at the scene approximately 9:45 p.m. discovered Devres in the master bedroom suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite emergency responders' attempts to administer first aid, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigation into the incident revealed that the shooting was the result of a robbery gone wrong. Detectives determined that the suspects had forced their way into the residence with the intent to steal from the victim. Police stated that the crime was not a random act of violence, as the perpetrators and the victim were known to each other. During the search of the property, officers located a suspect, identified as 21-year-old Shawon Jones of Hazelwood, hiding under a bed. Jones was found armed with an assault rifle at the time of his discovery.
Following his apprehension, Shawon Jones was taken into custody and held at the St. Louis County Jail without bond. Prosecutors issued warrants charging him with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and three additional counts related to the violent break-in. Reports indicated that a second suspect was also believed to be involved in the planning and execution of the robbery that led to the fatal confrontation. Subsequent legal updates linked the case to a sentencing where a Hazelwood man received an 18-year prison term for a fatal home invasion in the area, aligning with the charges brought against Jones.
