ST. LOUIS – Two St. Louis County men avoided trial in a 2020 killing after reaching plea agreements with prosecutors.

Jerry Wafford, 29, and Reuben Smith, 35, were both sentenced Wednesday to five years in state prison. They pleaded guilty last week to one count of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of Darrell McClendon in St. Louis City’s Hamilton Heights neighborhood.

According to a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson, the shooting happened in the block of Temple Place around 5:10 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2020. Police found McClendon laying on the front lawn and suffering from gunshot wounds.

McClendon was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 23.

Homicide detectives eventually identified Smith and Wafford as the suspected shooters and took both into custody. They were initially charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action.

However, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office agreed to amend the murder charge and dismiss the other charges in exchange for guilty pleas.

At Wednesday’s sentencing, an assistant circuit attorney said McClendon’s mother is grateful Smith and Wafford accepted responsibility for her son’s killing and hopes they learn to make better choices in their lives.