ST. LOUIS — A man was sentenced Monday to 18 years in prison for fatally shooting a contractor after a confrontation over unpaid labor in St. Louis's Gravois Park neighborhood.
As part of a plea deal to avoid trial this week for first-degree murder, Desante A. White, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges on Monday for the 2023 shooting death of Timothy Moore.
Moore, who rehabbed homes, was fatally shot in the 2700 block of Miami Street in September of 2023, the statement said.
"White later told police he shot Moore twice after confronting him about unpaid tuckpointing work White had done for Moore," a statement from the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court said. "White told police he pulled a gun on Moore after Moore tried to take his keys."
While in court on Monday, White apologized to the victim's family, saying he didn't intend to kill anyone. In part, White said, "things got heated real quick."
White, in custody for more than a year, will get credit for jail time, according to the statement.
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.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged home from the emergency department after being shot.
