ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man pleaded guilty and struck a plea deal Wednesday for his role in a 2019 murder in the city's Walnut Park West neighborhood.
According to a press release from a St. Louis Circuit Court, 24-year-old Earl Payne pleaded guilty to armed criminal action, robbery, witness tampering, gun theft and a reduced count of second-degree murder in the Aug. 19, 2019, killing of 22-year-old Charles Lagrone, of Hazelwood.
According to a St. Louis City assistant circuit attorney, Teraz Bateman, 25, and two others lured Lagrone to the 5000 block of Goodfellow under the guise of a drug deal on Aug. 31. The group planned to rob Lagrone and his associates.
Disputing those claims, Bateman's lawyers argued Lagrone died in a failed drug deal.
Lagrone was found shot and killed in a nearby parking lot. Two other victims, a 24-year-old woman and a 20-year-old male, were uninjured in the incident.
Bateman was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Lagrone. A jury found Bateman guilty of felony murder, robbery and armed criminal action in October.
Charges against another codefendant, 18-year-old Cortez McCullough, are pending.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
Cure Violence is an international organization that is present in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities.
