ST. LOUIS, MO  (May 7, 2026) — Carlos Coleman Jr., 19, was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the shooting death of 19-year-old Jerome Baker. The shooting occurred on May 7, 2024, in the 4800 block of Farlin Avenue in the City’s Penrose neighborhood.

On May 11, 2024, at approximately 5:00 a.m., St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers responded to a shooting call in the 4800 block of Farlin and found Baker lying in front of a residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Baker had been shot four times, including once in the neck, twice in the torso, and once in the arm. He died from his injuries.

Investigators recovered numerous spent shell casings throughout the block and found an item near Baker that contained Coleman’s DNA. Cell phone location data placed Coleman at the scene at the time of the shooting. A nearby porch surveillance camera captured the shooting from a distance and showed Coleman running through an alley behind the residence immediately afterward. Multiple witnesses identified Coleman after reviewing the surveillance footage. Coleman was later charged in connection with the homicide and certified to stand trial as an adult.

“This conviction is the result of a complex investigation conducted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the FBI. The SLMPD’s and FBI’s outstanding investigative work enabled the prosecution team to overcome challenging witness and evidence issues,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “No sentence can reverse the loss of Jerome Baker’s life. But this sentence improves public safety by removing a violent offender from the streets, and we hope this brings a measure of solace to Mr. Baker’s family.”

Violent Crime Unit Deputy Supervisor Grant Simon, Assistant Circuit Attorneys Nicholas Hirst, and Andrew Bennett prosecuted the case.

The defendant’s case number is 2522-CR01192.