ST. LOUIS — With a jury picked to begin trial Tuesday, a St. Louis man struck a last-minute plea deal in a 2016 double murder case, giving him a 15-year prison term.
Kelvin D. Ford III, 31, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree assault for killing two people and wounding a third in the Academy neighborhood.
Ford fatally shot Shawndreaka Lakes, 20, and Antoine Bronner, 27, shortly before 2 a.m. Sept. 3, 2016, in the 5000 block of Maple Avenue. Bronner, of the 3800 block of Avondale Avenue, died in a nearby gangway. Lakes, of the 5800 block of Roosevelt Place, died later at a hospital. He also shot and critically wounded Lakes’ sister Shay Bowers, then 17, who survived. Police said Ford fled police in a car, ran several stop signs, got out and tried to run from an officer.
Several arguments at a Mobil gas station preceded the shootings, court records said.
Bowers limped toward the bench Tuesday and gave a brief statement.
“This is bull-(expletive),” she said. She told Ford “Look at my face. You’re going to remember me.”
###[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here