ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man reached a plea deal with city prosecutors and avoided going to trial next week for a 2021 fatal shooting in the city’s Bevo neighborhood.
On Wednesday, Anthony D. Brown, 33, appeared in St. Louis City Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, armed criminal action, and two counts of first-degree assault.
Brown admitted to gunning down William T. Cooper, 30, in the 4600 block of Gravois Avenue on April 5, 2021.
Prosecutors amended a first-degree murder charge to voluntary manslaughter and dismissed other felonies in exchange for Brown’s guilty pleas.
Prior to sentencing, Cooper’s mother told the court her family is “broken” and voiced dissatisfaction with the plea agreement. The circuit court judge overseeing the case asked her if the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office had contacted her about the plea deal. She said a prosecutor had called her the day prior.
After attorneys convened and spoke with Cooper’s mother, the judge agreed to accept the plea deal and sentenced Brown to 13 years in state prison.
Cooper’s mother told the court she plans on attending each of Brown’s parole hearings.
“This gun violence has got to stop,” she said.