On the evening of April 12, 2022, 14-year-old Maryon Jackson was fatally shot in the Marine Villa neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. The incident occurred around 6:50 p.m. in the 3900 block of Missouri Avenue near Keokuk Street. Maryon, a resident of Florissant who lived in the Castle Point neighborhood, was involved in a confrontation where he and another teenager allegedly fired shots at a passing Ford Focus.
A passenger within the vehicle returned fire, striking both Maryon and his 15-year-old companion. Maryon suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other teen was critically injured with a wound to the abdomen but survived.
Authorities launched an investigation into the exchange of gunfire, which ultimately led to the arrest of the surviving teenager, Tramon Belford. Police determined that Belford and Maryon had initiated the violence by shooting at the moving vehicle, leading to the lethal defensive fire from the car's occupant. Belford, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, was taken into custody and originally charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Maryon's death.
In September 2024, Belford, then 17 years old, reached a legal resolution regarding his role in the fatal event. He entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter, admitting his involvement in the circumstances that caused the death of his companion. A St. Louis Circuit Judge sentenced Belford to 10 years in prison. During the sentencing, the judge recommended that Belford utilize educational resources and services during his incarceration to aid in his rehabilitation.
