ST. LOUIS, MO  (September 24, 2026) — A St. Louis jury found Johnny Haynes, 45, guilty Thursday of voluntary manslaughter, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm for fatally shooting a 27-year-old man in the City’s The Ville neighborhood.

On March 30, 2025, Haynes confronted his girlfriend and her cousin at the entrance of their apartment building in the 4300 block of Saint Ferdinand Avenue. Haynes followed the women to another floor of the building where 27-year-old Mikell Rayford confronted him about being loud and belligerent. During the confrontation, Haynes pulled out a handgun and shot Rayford once. Rayford died from his injuries at the scene. An eyewitness directly observed the shooting and identified Haynes as the gunman. Haynes fled the apartment building on foot following the shooting and did not return. He was arrested approximately three weeks later. Haynes admitted that he had been at the apartment building and had been involved in an altercation with Rayford.

“This defendant had already been convicted twice in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm, yet he chose once again to unlawfully arm himself,” Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said. “That choice took Mikell Rayford’s life and forever changed the lives of his family and those who loved him. No verdict can undo that loss, but this verdict holds the defendant responsible for taking him from them.”

Haynes was previously convicted twice in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm. His sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2026. He faces up to 60 years in prison.

General Felonies Unit Supervisor Timothy Wright, Assistant Circuit Attorney John Edwards, and Chief of Homicide Tanja Engelhardt prosecuted the case.

The defendant’s case number is 2522-CR01267-01.