St. Louis Man Charged with Murder in Broad Daylight Shooting of Jawon Deshawn Cooper
ST. LOUIS, MO — A 25-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he brazenly gunned down another man in broad daylight in St. Louis’ Walnut Park West neighborhood last month. The victim, 27-year-old Jawon Deshawn Cooper, was shot multiple times on July 17, 2025, and later died at a local hospital.
Prosecutors in St. Louis have charged De’Andre T. Chaney, of Calverton Park, with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting. Chaney, a convicted felon, was on supervised federal release at the time of the killing — a fact that has reignited concerns about gun violence and repeat offenders in Missouri communities.
Surveillance Captures the Attack
The shooting occurred just after noon near the 5400 block of Park Lane. According to a probable cause statement, surveillance footage shows a vehicle pulling up near the area where Cooper was standing. Multiple suspects, including Chaney, reportedly exited the vehicle and opened fire on the victim before speeding away.
Cooper, who had been struck several times, was driven to the hospital by private vehicle. Despite life-saving efforts by doctors, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. Witnesses at the scene described the shooting as sudden and chaotic — and said that Cooper appeared to have been specifically targeted.
History of Federal Offenses
What makes this case especially alarming is the suspect’s criminal background. In 2021, Chaney was sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, following a drug investigation conducted by federal and local authorities. He had been released under supervised conditions at the time of the shooting — a factor that raises questions about the monitoring of known offenders.
Following the homicide, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Chaney’s residence. During that search, investigators recovered multiple firearms, including one that was not consistent with the caliber used in the shooting, suggesting a larger arsenal may have been in his possession. It remains illegal for Chaney to own or possess any firearms due to his prior convictions.
He was arrested and taken into custody without incident. He is currently being held without bond at the St. Louis Justice Center, and his case is expected to go before a grand jury in the coming weeks.
A Community in Mourning
The victim, Jawon Deshawn Cooper, was remembered by family and friends as a quiet, loyal, and thoughtful young man who had been working to rebuild his life. A candlelight vigil was held in his honor days after the shooting, drawing dozens of mourners to the same block where he lost his life.
“This wasn’t just another crime scene,” said one local resident who knew Cooper personally. “This was somebody’s brother, somebody’s son. He didn’t deserve to die like that, and the neighborhood is tired of burying young men before their time.”
Several community members have called for increased support for violence intervention programs and for stricter accountability for violent repeat offenders. The incident marks another devastating loss in a city that has struggled with persistent gun violence and high homicide rates.
Legal Proceedings Underway
St. Louis prosecutors have described the case against Chaney as “strong,” citing surveillance video, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence recovered from his home. However, authorities caution that this remains an arrest, not a conviction, and Chaney is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with further information about the shooting is urged to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Division or submit anonymous tips through CrimeStoppers.
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