ST. LOUIS, MO (July 23, 2024) — Quinton Arvell Howard, 24, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Manu Barge, 32, on April 17, 2022, at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink station on April 17, 2022.

On the day he was shot, Barge boarded an eastbound train at the Emerson Park station in East St. Louis. Howard entered the same train car at the Clayton stop. According to witnesses, the two men got into a verbal argument. Both men stood up as Howard was exiting the train at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere stop. Howard shot Barge in the head and ran. The gun was never found.

Howard was sentenced to 10 years for involuntary manslaughter and five years for armed criminal action. The sentences will be served consecutively.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief of Homicide Mary Pat Carl and Assistant Circuit Attorney Michael Ware.

“It is tragic that a brief exchange of words between two strangers on a train would end in one’s death,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “The presence of a gun tipped the balance.”

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