Jamar Griffin

Jamar Griffin, a man remembered for his beautiful smile and loving, entrepreneurial spirit, was a beloved brother, cousin, and friend. Known to loved ones as "Mari" or "Whyteboi," the 32-year-old Black man was described as a caring, intelligent, and determined go-getter who was deeply family-oriented. A self-employed resident of St. Louis, Missouri, and an alumnus of the Normandy School District, Jamar’s presence brightened any room he entered. His loss created a void that his family feels every day, a pain captured in their countless messages of love and grief. His memory is so cherished that when his nephew’s son was born months after his death, the baby was named "Jamari" in his honor.

The new year had just begun when Jamar’s life was violently cut short. On January 1, 2018, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department received a call for a car crash in the city's Penrose neighborhood. Officers were dispatched to the 5000 block of Penrose Street, where they found a wrecked vehicle. Inside, they discovered two men who were unresponsive. The victims were Jamar Griffin and his friend, 32-year-old Antoine Jackson. Both men had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.

Investigators quickly determined that this was not a simple traffic accident but a double homicide. It was believed that the men were shot first, which then led the driver to lose control of the car and crash. The discovery marked a grim start to the year, as Griffin and Jackson became the city's first and second homicide victims of 2018. The scene was chaotic, and in the immediate aftermath, police had very little information to guide their investigation.

The St. Louis police homicide division took charge of the case, canvassing the area for potential witnesses and searching for any surveillance footage that might shed light on the final moments of the two men's lives. Despite their efforts, authorities publicly stated that they had few leads and no known motive for the shooting. In the days and weeks that followed, no suspects were publicly identified, and no arrests were announced, leaving the families of both Jamar Griffin and Antoine Jackson without answers.

The silence in the case has been profound. Years have passed since the killings, and the investigation remains open and unsolved. For Jamar’s family, the pain is a constant companion. They have marked his birthdays and the anniversaries of his death with outpourings of love on memorial pages, vowing to keep his memory alive and to continue seeking justice. "You Will Have Your Justice Mari...There's No Other Option," one family member wrote. Another shared the deep, unending sorrow: "I'm Now Convinced That The Pain Never Goes Away."

As of late 2026, the double homicide of Jamar Griffin and Antoine Jackson is still an active but cold case. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has not released any new information regarding persons of interest or suspects. The families continue to hope that someone will come forward with the information needed to bring the person or people responsible to justice. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the St. Louis police homicide division or CrimeStoppers.