ST. LOUIS – Authorities are searching for a St. Louis murder suspect accused of fatally shooting a man on a FaceTime call two years ago.
Jonathon Xavier Jones, 19, faces felony charges in a shooting death that happened on the morning of March 2, 2022, in the 2400 block of Whittier Street in The Ville neighborhood.
Prosecutors with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office formally filed charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon on Monday. Authorities issued an at-large warrant for his arrest on Tuesday.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, a witness observed the victim walking on a parking lot just moments before a driver in a Dodge Journey vehicle approached the victim and fired shots.
The victim, identified as JaDun Byrd, according to our news partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, died after being shot several times.
Byrd’s mother told authorities she was “actively FaceTiming” her son at the time of the murder and that her son had taken a Lyft ride with plans to meet her at work, per court documents.
Police used surveillance footage to eventually locate the Dodge Journey vehicle, later confirming Jones’ fingerprints on the driver’s side and recovering a weapon that matched evidence found at the scene of the murder, according to court documents.
Jones allegedly escaped from a juvenile detention center prior to the deadly shooting on Whittier Street. He is currently at large and will be held without bond upon arrest, according to Missouri court records.
If you have any relevant information on Jones’ whereabouts, contact SLMPD at 314-444-2500 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
