ST. LOUIS, MO (November 29, 2023) — Tevin Collins, 22, pleaded guilty Monday to second- degree murder and one count of armed criminal action in the shooting death of 15-year-old Ezell Johnson III on October 22, 2020. The shooting took place in the 4200 block of East Ashland Avenue in The Greater Ville neighborhood.

Ezell was sitting in the back of a car when he was shot multiple times. He was taken to St. Louis Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police recovered multiple shell casings from a 9mm weapon at the scene.

On October 30, police arrested Collins in the basement of a home in the 10000 block of Royal Drive, where they found a 9mm Sig-Sauer pistol hidden in an airduct. Collins said he shot Ezell because he felt he had been “played” by Ezell and believed Ezell had shot at him the previous night in a drive-by. The victim had a .40 caliber pistol next to him in the car where he was shot.

Collins, who was 19 when the shooting occurred, had been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. The murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder in exchange for his guilty pleas; he was scheduled to go to trial December 4, 2023. He will serve 15 years for second-degree murder and three additional years for armed criminal action. He will receive credit for the three years of jail time he has already served.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Circuit Attorney Gordon Ankney.

“Such devastating violence involving two teenagers in our community is completely unacceptable,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “I am grateful for the work of a seasoned prosecutor in putting the individual responsible for this senseless death where he belongs.”

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