Gentle Jesse, lost to gun violence

Hi, my name is Jill and I’m one of Jesse’s best friends. Along side me are his other close friends - Devon, Caitlin and Sarah. Our goal is to raise enough money for a memorial in the location where he was shot, an urn or celebration of life if we are blessed with enough.

On Sunday night, around 8pm near the Bevo Mill area, Jesse was walking to the gas station to get a cup of ice for Jude. On the way he stopped to talk to someone in the street, and was shot in the abdomen. After every attempt to save his life, SLU hospital pronounced him dead from the gunshot wound. There is an ongoing homicide investigation pending.

Jesse is the most gentle human any of us knew. Not a single one of our friends was nicer. Not one. Zero. Jesse was BY FAR the kindest and most gentle. Maybe even the funniest and the happiest.

It’s so strange to have such a gentle human taken in such a violent way … it feels surreal and unfair.

To make matters worse, his father died only a few months ago from cancer, impacting his family significantly. My heart is focused on those he left behind, Robin, Dylan, and Jude, who loved him so much that all he ever knew how to do was love others.

We want a celebration that shows him how much he was loved.

Rest in Peace Jesse, his father Clyde and Grandma Marty. You are, and will be, missed.