Jaylen Miles was 16 when he was found dead on December 29, 2022, in the backyard of a vacant house in the Glasgow Village neighborhood of St. Louis County, a short distance from his home. Police responded about 3:37 PM and discovered he had suffered at least one gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is being investigated as a homicide and occurred days before what would have been his 17th birthday.

Those who knew Jaylen described a recent, positive turnaround. After a 2020 charge for shooting at a police officer and two years in juvenile detention, he had been released on bond in August 2022 with support from a nonprofit and his attorney. In the months before his death he checked in weekly with a mentor, joined his school football team and a church basketball team with his younger brother, and participated in a Christian youth ministry. His family noted this change; his father had been killed by gun violence in 2019.

Crimes Against Persons detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department are leading the investigation. No suspects or arrests have been publicly identified; anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS.

Did anyone in Glasgow Village or the local youth groups notice anything that could help investigators?