Lamont Jones

Lamont Jones, a 33-year-old Black man from St. Louis, was a father remembered by loved ones as being "Full of life." Known to friends and family by nicknames including "Westside" and "Lil Sean," his life was cut short in the spring of 2019.

On the evening of Tuesday, April 9, 2019, Jones became involved in a physical altercation with another man in the city's Lewis Place neighborhood. The confrontation took place in the 4500 block of McMillan Avenue. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the dispute escalated when the other man produced a gun. Investigators determined that Jones was unarmed and was attempting to walk away from the fight when he was shot. He died from his injuries.

Homicide detectives quickly identified a suspect, 26-year-old Carlton Jones, who lived on the same block where the incident occurred. Police confirmed that the two men were not related. Carlton Jones was taken into custody and, according to authorities, admitted to shooting Lamont during their fight. The day after the shooting, on April 10, 2019, prosecutors charged Carlton Jones with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

The case concluded several years later. On May 12, 2023, Carlton Jones pleaded guilty to amended charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison, bringing the case to a legal close as of May 2023.