Robbery victim shoots suspect, teen charged with murder

ST. LOUIS – A 17-year-old has been charged with murder for an attempted robbery that resulted in the shooting death of one of his associates.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s probable cause statement, the shooting happened around 4 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2023, in the 2600 block of Osage Street, located in the Dutchtown neighborhood.

Police claim four teenagers attempted to rob a man in his 30s, but the would-be victim took out a gun and traded gunfire with the teens. One of the robbers, identified as Jerimiah Grayer, was shot in the head and killed. The man suffered an unspecified gunshot wound and had to be taken to the hospital.

The other three teens were arrested. One of them, Jonathan M. Jones, 17, was certified to stand trial as an adult.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Jones with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery, and two counts of armed criminal action. Jones will remain jailed without bond pending trial.

It’s unclear if the other teens will be tried as adults or go through the juvenile court system.