ST. LOUIS, MO  (September 4, 2025) — Defendant James W. Brown, Jr., 26, was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon in two separate cases.

On September 27, 2020, the victim was driven to the hospital and later died from gunshot wounds. Police determined the victim had been riding a bicycle past a gas station in the 1100 block of Salisbury Street in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood when he encountered a Kia Soul. After an exchange with the occupants, two people got out of the vehicle and shot him before leaving the scene. A witness later identified Brown and a co-defendant as the shooters. Brown first admitted only to driving the Kia, but later acknowledged that he also fired shots. Investigators recovered cartridge cases from two different firearms.

On December 5, 2023, Brown made threats with a Glock handgun in front of witnesses outside a residence in the 1400 block of Granville Place in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood.

“The defendant’s actions showed a disregard for human life. These convictions bring accountability and prevent the defendant from continuing to commit violent crimes in St. Louis neighborhoods,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore.

Brown has a prior conviction in St. Clair County, Illinois, for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.



Assistant Circuit Attorney Chris Faerber prosecuted the case.

Brown’s case numbers are 2322-CR03006-01 and 2322-CR03011-01.