St. Louis man pleads guilty to 2023 slaying of Jeff Vander-Loo

St. LOUIS – A St. Louis man avoided a jury trial this week by reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in a 2023 slaying in the city’s Jeff Vander Loo neighborhood.

The shooting happened around 5 p.m. on April 11, 2023, in the 2800 block of Gamble Street.

Police were patrolling MLK Street and Glasgow Avenue when they heard several gunshots nearby. Police arrived on the scene within minutes and found the victim, Patrick James, in the middle of the street with multiple gunshot wounds. James was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 33.

Accused shooter Kevin Larkin, now 35, was arrested the following month and charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon.

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With the trial approaching, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the murder and weapons charges if Larkin pleads guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon.

A district court judge signed off on the plea deal and guilty plea Friday before sentencing Larking to 10 years on one count and three years on the other count. The sentences will run consecutively, meaning Larkin will spend 13 years in state prison. Larkin was credited with 526 days of imprisonment.

Police and prosecutors said Larkin had prior convictions for illegal possession of a weapon, forgery and robbery in both St. Louis and the county.

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