Darnell Ashford, 29, was shot dead on July 18, 2022, at an apartment on Dragonwyck Drive in St. Louis County following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, 20-year-old Jaylon Dennis. The argument reportedly concerned allegations of Ashford’s infidelity; during the exchange Ashford is said to have made a veiled threat. Dennis left briefly, then returned, retrieved a semi-automatic handgun from her bedroom and walked to the kitchen where Ashford was seated. He was shot twice in the back of the head and pronounced dead at the scene.

When questioned by police, Dennis admitted to the shooting and was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. She was held on a $500,000 cash-only bond. The case was investigated by St. Louis County detectives from the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons.

Are there readers who knew Darnell or have information about what led up to that July night?