Valentine’s Day was anything but romantic for a DoorDash driver in Clayton, after police say two men turned a routine delivery into an armed carjacking that ended in gunfire and a late-night hunt across the metro.
According to investigators, the driver was approached on Feb. 14 by two men who demanded money. One suspect allegedly fired shots near the victim before the pair took off in the driver’s 2023 Kia Sportage. Both suspects were later arrested and remain in jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
Police: Gunfire, Stolen Kia and A Close Call for a Bystander
Authorities say Marvin Q. Perkins pulled a handgun, demanded cash and then fired two shots that missed the DoorDash driver. Police allege Perkins used a Smith & Wesson pistol with the serial number defaced, and investigators say officers later found some of the victim’s property on one of the suspects.
Per police, the suspects fled in the victim’s 2023 Kia Sportage. Officers later tracked down the suspects’ vehicle in St. Louis city just after 2 a.m. One of the bullets reportedly ricocheted off a sidewalk and nearly struck a bystander, according to FOX2.
Delivery Drivers Targeted Across The Region
The Clayton case is part of a broader pattern of crimes targeting delivery workers across the metro area in recent years, some of which have escalated into crashes and felony-level charges.
In a separate incident across the state, KCTV5 reported on a February 2025 armed robbery of a DoorDash driver in Kansas City that ended with a car chase, a crash and multiple felony counts against several suspects. Cases like these have added pressure on law enforcement to warn drivers about situational risks and aggressively pursue robbery and carjacking investigations.
Charges, Bond And Key Court Dates
St. Louis County prosecutors have charged Perkins with vehicle hijacking, first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. Perry C. Harris is charged with vehicle hijacking, first-degree robbery and two counts of accessory to armed criminal action.
Both men are being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond. Perkins has a bond-reduction hearing set for Feb. 20, and Harris has one scheduled for Feb. 24. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are set for March 10, according to FOX2.
What Comes Next
The cases will move through St. Louis County court this spring, where prosecutors are expected to present probable-cause statements at the upcoming hearings. Clayton police say the investigation is still active as officers follow leads and review evidence.
Victims and witnesses can still assist by contacting law enforcement. The defendants, meanwhile, remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.
