ST. LOUIS — A Dellwood man was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison over a 2023 murder in St. Louis city.
Ta'Shaun L. Patterson, 23, pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He originally faced a charge of first-degree murder, but that was amended to second-degree murder as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
Patterson admitted to shooting 29-year-old Miguel Johnson on May 3, 2023, in the Central West End neighborhood.
Charges said after an argument at an apartment in the 4400 block of Forest Park Parkway, Patterson and another man, Syntrell Howard, 22, chased the victim and shot him dead on the sidewalk near Laclede and North Taylor Avenue.
Patterson told the judge Thursday that he tried to defuse an argument involving Johnson and a woman that led to the shooting.
When the judge asked Patterson for his thoughts on his actions that day, Patterson said, "It was dumb."
Howard is facing charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful gun possession. His trial is set for Dec. 2.