ST. LOUIS – A western Missouri man appeared in St. Louis Circuit Court on Monday and admitted to gunning down a 14-year-old boy as revenge for his own son’s death.

The shooting happened around 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in the 5300 block of Northland Avenue, located in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.

Officers found the victim, Jacob Ashford, slumped on the front porch of a home. Ashford was pronounced dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives eventually arrested Louzell Davis Jr. for the murder. Davis was initially charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Davis’ own teenage son had been killed the prior evening while with a group of juveniles who attempted to steal a car. The owner of the car, who was in the vehicle at the time of the robbery, shot and killed Davis’ son.

Davis Jr. and his father, Louzell Davis Sr., went to a home where Ashford was staying with relatives and confronted the 14-year-old about the younger Davis’ death. The two boys had been friends and grew up together, police said.

Prosecutors said there was an argument between Davis Jr. and Ashford, and Davis brought the teenager onto the porch and shot him 12 times.

Davis initially admitted being at the house and talking with Ashford but denied shooting him. He was scheduled to face a jury trial when he reached a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. The firearm possession charge was dropped.

The judge overseeing the case agreed with the plea deal and sentenced Davis Jr. to 17 years in prison for the murder and an additional three years for armed criminal action.

“The killing of this teenaged boy will not bring Davis’s son back,” Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said. “It only perpetuates violence and brings heartache to another family.”