ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man was convicted Friday in the murder of his girlfriend’s landlord that stemmed from an eviction dispute.

Jurors found James Cody Jr., 30, guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Michael Kelly, 72.

Kelly was shot on March 8, 2022 in the 3900 block of North 25th Street in St. Louis’ Hyde Park neighborhood.

Investigators say Kelly was the landlord of a St. Louis property where Cody’s girlfriend was living, and Cody’s girlfriend had stopped paying rent. Despite a court-ordered eviction, his girlfriend refused to leave the property.

Investigators say, as the legal process unfolded, Cody, who was not listed on the lease but was the father of his girlfriend’s three children, began threatening Kelly.

On the morning of the murder, surveillance footage captured Cody following Kelly as he drove to his office. Once parked, Cody was seen approaching the vehicle with a rifle and fatally shooting him. Cody was arrested days later at a St. Louis County motel after evidence linked him to the crime.

“This was a ruthless, targeted killing over a lawful eviction. This senseless act of violence has destroyed multiple families. This conviction reflects our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders fully accountable,” said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore via a news release.

Jurors recommended a sentence of 25 years for second-degree murder and 10 years for armed criminal action. Cody’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 27, 2025.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office had initially charged Cody’s girlfriend with with accessory to first-degree murder and accessory to armed criminal action, though she has since been acquitted by a jury.