Jorion Garrett, Armed Carjacking, Missouri 2017

ST. LOUIS, MO – Jorion Garrett, 21, of Hazelwood, Missouri, has confessed to a brazen string of armed carjackings that terrorized the St. Louis area in late 2017 and early 2018. The defendant pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry to three counts of carjacking and two firearms charges, bringing an end – but not a resolution – to the case.

The first incident, according to the plea agreement, unfolded on October 28, 2017, on Enright Avenue. Garrett stalked a victim, then brandished a handgun, snatched the keys to a 2016 Dodge Charger, and peeled off. The stolen vehicle was quickly located near Garrett’s Hazelwood residence, and forensic evidence didn’t lie: Garrett’s DNA was all over the interior. It was a sloppy start to what would become a pattern of escalating violence.

Less than a month later, on November 21, 2017, Garrett and an accomplice targeted a woman parking her car in her driveway on Edgefield. Again, a firearm was displayed, and demands for the keys were made. The pair made off with the victim’s 2016 Dodge Journey, which predictably turned up at Garrett’s home. More DNA evidence linked him directly to the crime. This wasn’t just about stealing cars; it was about a calculated disregard for the lives of innocent people.

The final carjacking, occurring January 4, 2018, on Sagewood Lane in Hazelwood, involved a particularly vulnerable target: volunteers with the Meals on Wheels program. While one volunteer delivered meals, Garrett and another assailant approached the vehicle – a silver 2014 Jeep – with a handgun. The volunteer was ordered to “get back” as Garrett jumped behind the wheel. This time, Garrett didn’t just steal the car; he led police on a chase before abandoning the Jeep. Yet again, investigators recovered DNA and a fingerprint placing Garrett squarely at the scene.

Garrett now faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 14 years, to be served consecutively to any time imposed for the carjacking counts themselves, which each carry a maximum of 15 years. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2019, and the judge will consider federal sentencing guidelines when determining the final punishment. Don’t expect a light sentence; the feds don’t play around with armed carjacking.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, with crucial assistance from the Hazelwood Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Yemm is prosecuting the case. While Garrett’s plea brings a measure of closure to these victims, the Grimy Times will continue to follow the case through sentencing and beyond, ensuring justice is served.

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