ST. LOUIS, MO  (March 7, 2025) — Terrence Terrell Smith Jr., 18, and Jonathan Maurice Jones, 18, pleaded guilty this week to one count of attempted robbery and armed criminal action and were sentenced to 10 years in prison. Both were juveniles at the time they were arrested and were later certified to stand trial as adults.

The incident began with a drug deal that was a pretext for a robbery on September 27, 2023, at about 4 p.m. in the Dutchtown neighborhood. Smith, Jones and their friend, Jerimiah Deandrea Grayer, 18, attempted to rob Samuel Jewell Davis, 33, who drove to the 2600 block of Osage Street in a blue minivan. When Davis arrived, the three teenagers tried to rob him. All of the individuals were armed. A gun battle ensued, during which Grayer was killed.

A man who lived near the location of the shootout took photos of the incident as it was occurring and called the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. That led to a quick police response and the arrest of Smith and Jones as they attempted to flee the scene.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorney Adam Field.

“The responsible citizen who witnessed and photographed this incident and immediately contacted police, played an invaluable role in helping get these violent young perpetrators off the streets,” said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “We are grateful for his quick action and his willingness to work with law enforcement to make our community safer.”

Jones’s case number is 2422-CR00420-01 and Smith’s case number is 2422-CR00151-01



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