Jorre Hadley Killed in Front of 3-Year-Old Son and Siblings During Mother’s Day Custody Dispute: Deandre Miller Faces Multiple Felony Charges in St. Louis Shooting
What began as a routine family outing on Mother’s Day turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when 24-year-old Jorre Hadley was gunned down in front of her young child and siblings in St. Louis. Authorities have confirmed that the fatal shooting was the result of a heated and ongoing custody dispute involving the child’s father, Deandre Miller, who now faces a slate of serious criminal charges including first-degree murder.
The shooting has shocked the St. Louis community and raised urgent concerns about how dangerous unresolved custody conflicts can become when they escalate into violence.
The Incident: A Mother’s Day Marred by Violence
On what should have been a day celebrating motherhood, Jorre Hadley was spending time with her 3-year-old son and her siblings. She was seated in the front passenger seat of a car, with her child and family members also inside, when Miller approached. The two reportedly began arguing over custody of their son.
According to official reports, Hadley and her family briefly left the area to visit a nearby auto parts store. Upon their return, the argument with Miller resumed. What followed next was an act of calculated violence. Miller is alleged to have momentarily walked away from the confrontation, only to quickly return with a firearm. Without hesitation, he aimed the weapon at Hadley and shot her multiple times at close range while she sat helplessly in the car. Her 3-year-old son and siblings witnessed the murder.
After firing the shots, Miller fled the scene in a separate vehicle, abandoning the children and family members who were left to grapple with what had just occurred. First responders arrived, but despite their efforts, Hadley succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
The Arrest: Swift Law Enforcement Action
In the days following the shooting, law enforcement launched a full-scale manhunt. On the following Tuesday, investigators secured a search warrant for a property in the 4600 block of Korte Avenue, located in the Penrose neighborhood of St. Louis.
As officers closed in, they spotted Miller attempting to escape. A police K-9 unit, led by a dog named Admiral, was deployed in the pursuit. During the attempt to apprehend him, Miller reportedly put the dog in a headlock in a last-ditch effort to evade arrest. Nevertheless, Admiral subdued him, and officers took him into custody.
Miller was booked into the St. Louis City Justice Center without bond. His arrest brought a measure of relief to a community still reeling from the senseless loss of a young mother.
Charges Filed: A Long List of Serious Offenses
Deandre Miller now faces multiple charges in connection with the killing of Jorre Hadley and related offenses. Prosecutors have outlined the following charges:
- First-Degree Murder (Class A felony): 1 count
- Armed Criminal Action (Class U felony): 2 counts
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class A felony): 1 count
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Class C felony): 1 count
- Resisting/Interfering with Arrest (Class E felony): 1 count
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class D felony): 1 count
- Assault on a Law Enforcement Animal (Class A misdemeanor): 1 count
Each of these charges reflects a different aspect of Miller’s actions—not only the murder itself but also the endangerment of multiple children, obstruction of justice, and violence against a police K-9 during his arrest.
The Aftermath: A Child’s Life Changed Forever
The psychological and emotional toll on the children, especially Hadley’s 3-year-old son, cannot be overstated. Experts in childhood trauma stress that witnessing the violent death of a parent can cause lifelong emotional scars, including anxiety, PTSD, and developmental delays.
Family members are now rallying around the children in an attempt to provide immediate care and stability. Mental health professionals and victim support advocates have been engaged to offer crisis counseling. Efforts are underway to ensure the children receive both psychological support and safe, long-term guardianship.
The Hadley family, devastated by the loss, has begun the process of laying Jorre to rest while also navigating the trauma left behind. Community members and organizations have stepped forward to help with funeral costs and support for the surviving children.
A Troubled Relationship and a History of Conflict
While court records have not detailed prior legal disputes between Hadley and Miller, people close to the situation have reported that the two shared a complicated and sometimes volatile relationship. Family and friends indicate that arguments were frequent, particularly surrounding parenting and custody issues. It remains unclear whether Hadley ever sought legal protection, such as a restraining order, but those close to her say she had expressed fear and frustration over Miller’s behavior.
Advocates for domestic violence prevention emphasize that warning signs in contentious custody relationships are often overlooked or minimized until it is too late. This case now stands as a grim example of what can happen when such disputes escalate without effective intervention.
A Call for Change: Protecting Parents in Crisis
In the wake of Hadley’s murder, activists, social workers, and lawmakers have renewed their calls for reforms in how custody disputes are handled, especially when there is a potential risk of violence. Some of the proposals being discussed include:
- Enhanced screening during custody proceedings for domestic violence risk factors
- Automatic emergency protective orders in high-conflict parenting cases
- Increased funding for legal aid and advocacy programs that assist parents at risk
- Greater access to supervised visitation and neutral exchange zones to reduce in-person confrontations
Advocates argue that if such measures had been in place, Jorre Hadley might still be alive today.
Community Reaction: Mourning and Mobilization
The city of St. Louis has been shaken by this tragedy. Vigils have been held in Hadley’s memory, with friends and community members lighting candles, holding signs, and speaking out against violence rooted in domestic and custody-related conflict.
The Hadley family issued a brief statement thanking the community for its support and calling for privacy as they mourn their daughter and sister. They expressed hope that the justice system will fully hold Miller accountable and that steps will be taken to protect others from similar fates.
Local organizations have also stepped in, offering assistance to families dealing with custody battles and intimate partner violence. One shelter director described the killing as “a brutal reminder that custody issues are not always just legal disputes—they can become deadly without the right safeguards.”
The Road to Justice
Deandre Miller remains in custody awaiting trial. Legal experts anticipate that prosecutors will pursue the most severe penalties available, given the premeditated nature of the act and the presence of children during the murder. A conviction on the first-degree murder charge alone could result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Court dates are expected to be announced soon. Victim advocacy groups plan to attend proceedings in solidarity with the Hadley family.
In Memory of Jorre Hadley
Jorre Hadley’s life was full of promise and love for her child. Friends remember her as a bright, compassionate woman who always prioritized her son’s well-being. She had dreams of building a better future for him, and her life was centered around that goal.
Though her life was tragically cut short, her memory lives on through her child and the community determined to honor her by demanding justice and systemic change. Her story is a reminder of the urgent need to protect vulnerable parents and children from threats that too often go unaddressed—until it’s too late.
