ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man appeared in court on Tuesday and admitted killing his neighbor in spring 2022.

The murder took place on May 8, 2022, at the Minerva Place Apartments in the 1300 block of Montclair Avenue, located in the city’s Hamilton Heights neighborhood.

Police and prosecutors said Howard Mayes, now 29, shot Damon Hawkins, 47, several times before running from the scene. Surveillance video recorded the murder.

Mayes lived on the same block as Hawkins. The two men were in an ongoing dispute prior to the shooting.

With a jury trial scheduled to begin this week, Mayes opted for a plea deal with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors reduced Mayes’ first-degree murder charge to second-degree. Mayes also pleaded guilty to armed criminal action.

The St. Louis Circuit Court judge overseeing the case accepted Mayes’ plea and sentenced him to 15 years for the murder charge and an additional three years for armed criminal action.