ST. LOUIS – Last week, St. Louis jurors convicted a Hannibal, Missouri, man for his role in an associate’s death during a shootout in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
Jeffrey Leslie, now 46, was found guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and attempted robbery in the death of Alonzo V. Jones.
Jones was fatally wounded on the evening of May 6, 2023, in the 1500 block of Destrehan Street.
Prosecutors with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office said police responded to a shooting and found Jones dead with a gunshot wound to his chest. Jones was 35.
Police spoke with the shooter, who told them he’d arrived at that location with his girlfriend and noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parked across the street.
Jones, Leslie, and a third man, Izel Nash, got out of that vehicle and began shooting at the man who just pulled up as their intended target.
This individual took out his own gun and returned fire, killing Jones in the process. Leslie and Nash attempted to retrieve Jones but fled after realizing Jones was dead. Leslie and Nash were later arrested.
The entire incident was recorded on surveillance video.
Leslie, now 46, will be sentenced on April 14. He has prior convictions for drug and weapons charges.
Nash, now 30, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in September 2024 and was sentenced to 18 years. At present, he’s in custody at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri.