In a decisive conclusion to a harrowing case of neighborhood violence, the St. Louis Circuit Court saw a jury convicting 36-year-old Arthur Richardson on counts of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and other charges. According to a press release by the Circuit Attorney’s Office, Richardson landed himself a recommended sentence of life without parole, plus an additional 35 years, for the fatal shooting of his 23-year-old neighbor, Anthony Kent, in the Gravois Park neighborhood.
Details reveal that this deadly conflict stemmed from a neighboring dispute, that culminated in Richardson opening fire from the street, and shooting Mr. Kent in the head as he stood on his own porch. A second person present at the scene, Nabiel Kassis, fortunately escaped the ordeal without physical harm. The prosecution presented evidence, including shell casings and surveillance footage, confirming all shots were fired from the street with no return gunfire, according to the same source.
Richardson, eschewing the assistance of a public defender, chose to represent himself throughout the trial. Despite his self-representation, the jury was convinced by the weight of the evidence against him and delivered their guilty verdict on Wednesday. Assistant Circuit Attorneys Chris Faerber and Ryan Dowd were the figures leading the prosecution’s case. Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore was quoted stating, “This was a cold and calculated murder. The defendant returned to that home with the clear intent to kill, opening fire in broad daylight on a quiet residential street.”…