Man sentenced for 14-year-old's murder in 2021

Note: This video is from March 10, 2021.

ST. LOUIS - A man was sentenced to prison Friday for the murder of a 14-year-old boy in broad daylight more than four years ago.

According to officials, 14-year-old Kathon Moore was riding his bike in the West End Neighborhood in the early evening of March 8, 2021, when he came across James Blake, now 24, and another individual.

Moore offered marijuana to them when Blake and a co-defendant threw the teen to the ground. Blake shot Moore in the back in the head as he laid defenseless, instantly killing him.

Blake and the co-defendant stole the marijuana and a handgun from Moore before fleeing. Nearby witnesses helped officials identify Blake.

Blake was convicted in June. Friday, a judge sentenced him to 21 years at the Missouri Department of Corrections.

"Kathon Moore’s life mattered," Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said in a release. "Our office will never waver in holding violent offenders accountable and standing with the families devastated by senseless acts of violence."