ST. LOUIS, MO (October 16, 2023) — A St. Louis man has pleaded guilty to a 2021 double homicide in the Central West End.

Javonn Javontay Nettles, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder for shooting Darrion Rashad Rankin-Fleming, 26, and his daughter, Dmyah Fleming, 7, while they were sitting in a car parked in the 4000 block of Laclede Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on January 24, 2021.

Nettles and an accomplice, Andre Anderson, 27, both were charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting. Nettles’ case had been scheduled to go to trial in July of 2022. However, two days before the trial was set to begin, the charges were dismissed and refiled because former prosecutors said they were not ready to proceed. In April of 2023, former prosecutors again dismissed and refiled the charges, saying they were not ready.

“After thorough consideration, it is our view that this plea agreement represents the best result that could be achieved under the circumstances,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “While far from perfect, this plea holds the perpetrator accountable for these tragic deaths.”Nettles will serve two concurrent 10-year sentences in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Anderson, 27, is still awaiting trial.

The Nettles case was prosecuted by the Circuit Attorney Office’s Chief of Homicide, Mary Pat Carl.

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