In the quiet, early morning hours of September 24, 2022, the life of 32-year-old Terrance Marquise Washington was tragically cut short on the porch of a residence in Saint-Ann, Missouri. Responding to a call of shots fired in the 10000 block of Douglas Court at approximately 12:15 a.m., St. Ann police officers discovered Washington, a male, with multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation into the shooting was swiftly undertaken by the St. Ann Police Department, who soon requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Washington's death. Their collaborative efforts painted a grim picture of the events that transpired. According to charging documents, the suspect, James Cody, who was 30 years old at the time, had driven to Washington's residence. It is alleged that Cody then used a burner phone to send a text message to Washington, luring him to come outside of his home. When Washington stepped out onto his porch, Cody allegedly opened fire, shooting him multiple times before fleeing the scene. Investigators were able to connect Cody to the crime through cell phone data, which showed both his personal cell phone and the burner phone pinging in the same locations, including at Washington's home at the time of the murder.
Within days of the shooting, the investigation led to the arrest of James Cody. He was subsequently charged by the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney's office with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm. It was revealed that Cody was a convicted felon and was legally barred from possessing a weapon. Following his arrest, Cody was held at the St. Louis County Jail on a $1 million bond.
