St. Louis police have identified the man found dead during a search for a missing delivery driver as 23-year-old Jardyn Walker, authorities said Wednesday. Walker was reported missing after failing to return from a delivery route and was later found shot to death in the city’s Central West End.
Walker was last seen while making package deliveries and was expected to return to an Amazon facility in Hazelwood, Missouri, where a family member was scheduled to pick him up. When he did not arrive and could not be reached, relatives contacted police, prompting a missing-person investigation.
Officers later traced Walker’s cellphone signal to the 4200 block of Olive Street, where they discovered his body early Wednesday morning. He had suffered at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have charged 27-year-old Jamaal Jones with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with evidence in connection with Walker’s death. Police say witnesses reported hearing gunfire and identified a suspect vehicle fleeing the area. Investigators later detained Jones and recovered evidence believed to be linked to the shooting.
Outside of his delivery work, Walker was known in entertainment and online communities by the names “J Rok” and “Peewee.” He was recognized by viewers of the Zeus Network dating series Love Both Ways, where he appeared under the name Peewee. He was also active as an aspiring rapper, releasing music and promoting his work under the name J Rok on social media and music platforms, according to public profiles and fan pages.
Police have not indicated that Walker’s music or television appearances played any role in the events leading up to his death. The investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department or CrimeStoppers.
