ST. LOUIS, MO  (June 25, 2026) — Ken'vonte Bownes, 22, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to first-degree assault resulting in serious physical injury and two counts of first-degree robbery for offenses committed in the City's Baden neighborhood.

On October 23, 2024, officers responded to a shooting in the 8800 block of Lowell Avenue involving a 45-year-old man. Officers found the victim lying in a pool of blood and barely conscious after he had been shot multiple times. The victim was transported to the hospital and survived after receiving emergency medical treatment. After stabilizing, he identified Bownes as the shooter through a photo lineup.

On February 3, 2025, officers investigated an armed robbery that had occurred the previous day in the 8800 block of North Broadway. A 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old man reported that a group of individuals robbed them at gunpoint. One victim was robbed of a firearm, while the other victim had his bag, wallet, and cellphone stolen. Surveillance video captured the robbery and showed Bownes and a co-defendant pointing firearms at the victims. After waiving his Miranda rights, Bownes admitted he was depicted in the surveillance footage.

"This defendant demonstrated a willingness to use violence again and again, putting innocent people at risk and leaving lasting harm in his wake. Today's sentence means he will no longer be able to threaten the safety of St. Louis residents,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “Our office remains committed to holding violent offenders accountable and achieving a higher level of public safety for the St. Louis Community."

At the time of these offenses, Bownes had a prior felony conviction for first-degree tampering and multiple pending felony cases in St. Louis County, including a first-degree robbery and armed criminal action case.

Violent Crime Unit Deputy Supervisor Grant Simon and Assistant Circuit Attorney Michael Ware prosecuted the case.

The defendant's case numbers are 2522-CR00655-01 and 2522-CR01924-01.