The entertainment world has been rocked by tragic news from Missouri this week, as Jardyn "Pee Wee" Walker, a former contestant on the dating reality television series Two Ways with Erica Mena, was discovered shot to death in St. Louis. The young man, who was just 23 years old, had appeared on the programme last year, competing for the affections of video vixen and Love & Hip Hop alumna Erica Mena.
A Missing Person Report Leads to a Grim Discovery
The sequence of events began on Tuesday night when Walker failed to meet his sister at a pre-arranged time and location. He was supposed to give her a ride home from the Amazon Hazelwood plant, and when he did not arrive, she promptly reported him missing to the University City Police Department. Walker had been working as a delivery driver that evening and was last seen in the University City area of St. Louis.
Authorities, acting on the missing person report filed around 1am Wednesday, initiated a search. Using phone tracking technology, police were able to trace the pinging signal from Walker's device to an alley situated in the Central West End neighbourhood. It was there they made the heartbreaking discovery: Walker's car and, nearby, his body, deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.
Suspect Apprehended and Charged with Murder
In a swift development following the discovery, prosecutors have now formally charged 27-year-old Jamaal Lamonte Jones with first-degree murder, felony evidence tampering, and armed criminal action. Jones is currently being held without bond at the St. Louis City Justice Center, and his mugshot has been released to the public.
The arrest stemmed from an earlier incident on Tuesday evening. Police responded to a report of shots fired at approximately 8:45pm. Upon arrival at that scene, officers observed a vehicle speeding away. The car was apprehended about half a mile distant, and inside, sitting in the passenger seat, was Jamaal Lamonte Jones.
Alleged Confession and Evidence Recovered
According to official charging documents, Jones had an assault rifle positioned between his legs at the time of his arrest. A subsequent search allegedly uncovered shell casings in his pocket. Court documents further claim that Jones confessed to firing the weapon, stating he had acted "in fear of his life." Notably, this confession reportedly occurred before police were aware that a shooting victim had been found.
The investigation took another turn when Jones' brother was detained and questioned by homicide detectives on Wednesday morning. The brother stated that both Jones and Walker had been at his apartment on the night in question. St. Louis police spokesman Mitch McCoy clarified that Walker's visit was for personal reasons, not related to his delivery work.
The brother's account, as detailed in the probable cause statement, describes hearing gunshots as Walker was leaving the apartment. Upon entering the living room, he found it empty. He alleges that Jones then ran back into the apartment carrying the assault rifle before departing again in his sister's car.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Investigation
The violent incident has sent shockwaves through the local community. Roxane Maurer, a resident who lives near the alley where Walker was found, described waking to the sight of emergency service lights illuminating her bedroom wall. While noting that crime sometimes occurs in the alleys, Maurer characterised her Central West End neighbourhood as generally safe, telling reporters she has lived there for 11 years without incident.
The case remains under active investigation by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The connection between the initial shots fired report and the subsequent discovery of Walker's body proved crucial in the rapid apprehension of a suspect. As legal proceedings move forward against Jamaal Lamonte Jones, friends, family, and fans are left mourning the loss of a young life tragically cut short.
