Jevon Malcom Patterson, a 23-year-old Black male from Saint Louis, Missouri, saw his life violently cut short on the afternoon of March 31, 2023. Known affectionately to his friends and family as 'Von,' he was sitting in a vehicle in the 5000 block of Thrush Avenue in the Walnut Park East neighborhood when the shooting occurred. In a final act of protection, Patterson was reportedly cradling a baby in his arms as the car was riddled with bullets.
He sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach during the barrage of gunfire, shielding the infant from the violence that erupted just after noon.
Following the shooting, a frantic attempt was made to save his life. He was driven away from the scene in a private vehicle, which eventually stopped miles away in the 4400 block of Duncan Avenue to meet with first responders. Despite these efforts and subsequent transport to a local hospital, Patterson succumbed to his injuries. The tragedy left a void in the lives of his loved ones, including his young daughter and a second child he was expecting at the time. He was remembered by his community for his warm demeanor, his work ethic, and his completion of a construction trade program at the St. Louis Job Corps Center.
Law enforcement investigators eventually identified a suspect in connection with the homicide. Authorities arrested 20-year-old Jerry Pergues, charging him with first-degree murder for Patterson's death. In addition to the murder charge, Pergues faced four counts of first-degree assault and five counts of armed criminal action, reflecting the severity of the incident and the danger posed to the other occupants of the vehicle. Following the charges, Pergues was ordered to be held without bond as the legal proceedings commenced.
