On a cold December evening in Saint Louis, Missouri, a dispute inside a Save-A-Lot grocery store in the Riverview neighborhood tragically escalated, ending the life of 20-year-old Kevin Brown. The young man was involved in an altercation with another individual, Lamarkis Cowan, on December 19, 2016. The argument spilled out into the parking lot where the confrontation turned deadly.
As Brown attempted to flee the escalating situation, Cowan produced a firearm and shot him multiple times.
Despite his efforts to escape, Brown collapsed in the parking lot and succumbed to his injuries. The incident sent ripples of shock and grief through the local community.
In the days following the shooting, the investigation quickly pointed towards 27-year-old Lamarkis Cowan as the primary suspect. He subsequently turned himself in to the authorities. Cowan was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for his role in Brown's death and was held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
The legal proceedings moved forward, and as Cowan's trial for first-degree murder was about to commence, a plea deal was reached. In April 2019, Cowan pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to a 14-year prison term. Cowan's defense attorney stated that a claim of self-defense would have been presented at trial, but accepting the plea offer was determined to be in the best interest of all parties involved.
