ST. LOUIS — A man was convicted in St. Louis Circuit Court on Monday in the fatal shooting of a man during a neighborhood barbecue in 2020. It was the first murder conviction for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office since it came under the leadership of Gabe Gore.
A spokesperson for the circuit attorney's office said Kennice Brock, 51, was convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Carl Netter. The conviction carries an automatic life-sentence with no possibility of parole.
Prosecutors said that in July 2020, Brock walked into a barbecue being held at Biker's Corner, located at 1924 Vandeventer Ave., and shot Netter after being asked repeatedly to put his gun away.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorney Srikand Chigurupati, who credited solid police work and clear surveillance video with helping to secure Brock's conviction.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, who stepped into the office at the end of May, released a statement Monday regarding the conviction.
“I want to congratulate Srikant for putting together a strong case and gaining justice for Mr. Netter, who was an innocent victim and tried unsuccessfully to deescalate the situation,” Gore said. “As I work to rebuild our team at the Circuit Attorney’s Office, it is important to recognize those prosecutors who have worked for the past several years under tough circumstances continuing to seek justice for victims of violent crime.”
