ST. LOUIS, MO (May, 12, 2025) — A 16-year-old male, who was certified as an adult by the courts, was sentenced to 28 years in prison on Monday for his role in a fatal carjacking that occurred on January 24, 2023, in the city’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Deshaun Harris pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and attempted robbery. Judge Timothy Boyer imposed a 23-year sentence for the murder charge, a consecutive five-year term for armed criminal action, and a concurrent 15-year term for attempted robbery.

The charges stem from the shooting death of 38-year-old Kay Johnson, who was killed outside her garage in the 4700 block of South Compton Avenue. Johnson’s 14-year-old daughter was present at the time of the incident. Harris and other juveniles approached Johnson while she was in her vehicle. Harris fired a single shot when Johnson did not comply with demands, resulting in her death.

A second juvenile, who was certified as an adult by the courts, Brian Wellington, 15, was previously sentenced to 20 years in connection with the same crime after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Circuit Attorneys Ashley Walker and Paul D’Agrosa, both of whom are Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Office of U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming.

“A mother was murdered in front of her child, and there is nothing that can undo that,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “This sentence, however, sends a clear message: gun violence in our communities will be met with serious consequences.”



Harris’s case number is 2422-CR01553. Wellington’s case number is 2422-CR01096-01.

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