ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Police have confirmed they have a suspect in custody connected to the fatal shooting of Alexander Marley in a south county Walmart parking lot on Thursday.
St. Louis County police arrested 38-year-old Jesse Kelley on Saturday. It is not known if Kelley knew Marley.
John Armengol is the owner of Andre’s Banquet and Catering. He met Marley close to six years ago when Marley was 23 years old and interested in working for the family business.
"He was able to elevate us to another level,” said Armengol.
Marley quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming executive chef.
"It was an owner's dream to have an employee like him because he cared as much about Andre's as me, the owner does," he said.
Armengol told 5 On Your Side that Marley was always game for a challenge and was key in growing and expanding the business.
Friday morning, Armengol got a phone call from Marley’s dad, saying that his son had been killed.
"You see that on TV, that phone call, but I never really kind of lived that,” he said.
Armengol said that he is dedicating the ballroom at the company’s brand new location to Marley. The ballroom is currently under construction through January 2019. But it will soon be called the Alexander Ballroom.
"Everybody that’s part of the Andre's family that is working that event is going to think about him and that starts now," Armengol said.
Kelley has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. He is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
Police also said they believe Kelley is connected to a robbery and kidnapping that occurred in the Central West End Wednesday morning.
