ST. LOUIS — A man from St. Louis County pleaded guilty to carjacking and robbing two people in St. Louis city last year.
Bradley McKinney, 35, pleaded guilty to carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a machine gun.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Missouri said McKinney admitted to the crimes as part of a plea deal.
After midnight on July 29, 2023, McKinney and an accomplice were armed with handguns and approached two people who had just got out from a 2015 Chevy Cruze near 16th Street and Lucas Avenue.
McKinney and the accomplice stole the keys to the Cruze and other valuables before McKinney's associates pulled up in a white GMC Terrain. McKinney got into the stolen car with another associate before both cars sped off. The stolen car was later found abandoned in East St. Louis the next morning.
About a day after the carjacking, St. Louis police tracked down the GMC Terrain using license plate recognition and used a spike strip to deflate several tires. McKinney was the driver and alone in the car.
Police found a Glock 17 handgun under the driver seat with an extended magazine and an auto-sear or 'switch' installed, which made it a machine gun. The U.S. Attorney's Office said McKinney admitted to owning the fully automatic Glock, knowing he was a convicted felon and prohibited from doing so.
McKinney was scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 6.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of 19 years in prison.
