Deandre Johnson, a 31-year-old man, has reportedly entered a guilty plea to charges of voluntary manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm, stemming from a fatal shooting that occurred in December of last year. Johnson was sentenced to spend fifteen years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, according to a statement from the Circuit Attorney's Office.
The incident in question took place on the 3500 block of St. Louis Avenue, within the Kingsway East neighborhood. It was there that Kyle Fitzgerald, aged 22, fell victim to gun violence. Evidence that was key to bringing Johnson to justice included surveillance video from a corner store and flashes of gunfire caught on an outdoor camera—this footage, it seems, surfaced to only further solidify Johnson's guilty plea. A witness also came forward, according to reports, stating that Johnson had privately confessed to having committed the shooting.
In remarks obtained by the Circuit Attorney's Office, Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore highlighted the gravity of the situation, saying, "A young man lost his life in a street shooting. Holding the responsible individual accountable is essential to protecting our neighborhoods and ensuring public safety for all residents."
During the time of this tragic event, Johnson was under federal supervised release due to a previous conviction for unlawful firearm possession. Beyond this, his criminal history includes multiple other felonies, such as tampering, resisting arrest, and property damage. The decision to swiftly and decisively address this case sends out a clear message: that the justice system is determined to rigorously uphold the law and address gun-related violence head-on.
