On the evening of August 28, 2023, 45-year-old male Frederick Jett was walking near Glen Owen Drive and Bahama Court in Ferguson, Missouri, when he became the victim of a violent encounter. Jett was accompanied by another individual at the time, and around 8:46 p.m., the pair was approached by two subjects armed with a handgun. The assailants demanded cash and property from both victims.
While the suspects successfully stole a purse and phone from the person accompanying Jett, the situation escalated rapidly when they turned their attention to him. According to investigation reports, Jett had his hands raised in compliance during the robbery attempt when he was shot.
Law enforcement officers from the City of Ferguson responded to the scene after receiving an alert from ShotSpotter, a system designed to detect gunfire. Upon arrival, they discovered Jett suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter due to the severity of his injuries. Jett lived on Geringer Court, approximately three miles from where the shooting took place.
Authorities identified and arrested two suspects in connection with the homicide. Jerry Watkins, 23, was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, and two counts of armed criminal action. A second suspect, 17-year-old Kamrin Starks, was initially taken into juvenile custody but was later certified to stand trial as an adult in June 2024. Starks faces charges including first-degree murder, robbery, attempted robbery, and armed criminal action. Investigators allege that Starks handed the weapon to Watkins, who then fired the fatal shot. Both defendants were held on $1 million cash-only bonds as the legal proceedings moved forward.
