Companies raise concerns about Doordash safety after driver shot

O’FALLON, Missouri — A gunshot rang out through the 800 block of Barbara Place just before 12:30 a.m. on July 7 when a delivery driver accidentally delivered an order to the wrong address and attempted to pick it up.

Homeowner Dwayne Tyreese Jones confronted the driver, and a shot was fired and the victim was found in Jones’ driveway. Emergency responders performed life-saving measures before taking the driver to the hospital.

“He is still in the hospital. He has already undergone several surgeries and is still in very, very critical condition. I don’t believe the driver did anything in this situation that would justify this kind of action,” said Joe McCulloch, St. Charles County prosecutor.

Doordash, a popular food delivery service, is widely used in St. Charles County and is taking several measures to keep its drivers safe. They have partnered with ADT to give drivers access to staff and direct lines to 911, but moments like these have the community wondering if more can be done to keep drivers safe.

A downtown St. Charles store owner who uses Doordash told FOX 2, “If I were a Doordash driver, this would scare me too… I worry about the people I know who use Doordash and their safety.”

Emily Hartig of Riverside Sweets also uses Doordash for her business.

“If it gets really uncertain and more things happen, I think companies might start to question whether it’s worth it – if they’re not making a lot of money from it, they don’t want to put people at risk,” she said.

Others, like Chip Bates, owner of The Main House, are not so quick to give up the service.

“It’s a double-edged sword. If the system collapsed, all these people would find another job somewhere else,” Bates said.

The St. Charles County District Attorney’s Office is charging Jones with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Because of his prior convictions, he remains in custody without bail. His next court date is scheduled for July 17.