A Flordell Hills man has been handed an 18-year prison sentence in connection with a 2022 shooting that left his cousin's fiancé dead. Stefhon M. Hawkins, 28, received his sentence today after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the death of 33-year-old Ryan Thompson. The incident took place on September 24, 2022, in the Baden neighborhood of St. Louis, as reported by the St. Louis Circuit Court.
In the lead-up to his sentencing, Hawkins’ case was poised for a trial this week before St. Louis Circuit Judge Annette Llewellyn. Instead, a plea agreement led to the dismissal of additional charges, including counts of armed criminal action, and kidnapping. Hawkins, originally charged with first-degree murder, admitted to shooting Thompson in the face during a dispute that ensued among him, his cousin, and Thompson. The victim had attempted to flee after being wounded but was later found in a nearby alley, dead from his injuries.
Judge Llewellyn addressed Hawkins before finalizing the sentence, inquiring whether he could have chosen a different path on that fateful day. "I could have left,” Hawkins conceded, a statement obtained by the St. Louis Circuit Court. The judge accounted for approximately 22 months of jail time Hawkins has already served when handing down the 18-year term. Hawkins' case number, 2322-CR00642-01, marks the tragic legal conclusion to an altercation that escalated beyond repair, snatching away the life of Ryan Thompson and altering the lives of all involved.
