ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A week-long jury trial in the city of St. Louis wrapped-up Friday with a guilty verdict on voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action charges.
It took jurors eight hours of deliberation to convict 44-year-old DeAndre Wilkes of Ferguson for his part in the the May 2022 killing of Clifton Cooley, Jr.
Police said Wilkes shot the unarmed Cooley dead in the Bevo neighborhood during an argument.
Circuit attorney Gabe Gore commented after the verdict that he's gratified to know his team achieved justice for the victim's family.
Gore said his office is working diligently to prosecute and clear the backlog of violent crimes in St. Louis.
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