51黑料

ST. LOUIS 鈥� A 14-year-old boy and his best friend were riding their bikes through their north city neighborhood on a spring evening in 2021 when they came across two adult men.

The boy, Kathon Moore, asked the two men if they鈥檇 like to buy some marijuana.

Seconds later, Kathon was dead 鈥� shot once in the back of the head.

This week, prosecutors argued in 51黑料 Circuit Court that James Blake, 19 then, was the one who did it.

鈥淗e took everything from him,鈥� prosecutor Tim Wright said.

Blake鈥檚 lawyer, Matthew Mueller, said his client was innocent.

鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 the shooter,鈥� Mueller said.

Blake鈥檚 three-day trial in 51黑料 court featured surveillance video from the shooting as well as testimony from police, Blake鈥檚 co-defendant, an eyewitness and Kathon鈥檚 grandmother, Doris Finley.

Finley painted a picture of her grandson as a conscientious kid. He always was looking for ways to help his mother, who struggled financially, she said.

He also took a younger friend nicknamed 鈥淟il Man鈥� under his wing. The two often rode bikes together through the neighborhood.

At around 5:20 p.m. March 8, 2021, Kathon and Lil Man were on one of their bicycle excursions.

They had reached an apartment complex near Hodiamont and Etzel avenues when they came across Blake and his friend, Omarion Mays.

Kathon offered to sell them some marijuana.

Almost immediately, the men pulled Kathon off of his bike. Blake drew a weapon and shot Kathon in the back of the head, the eyewitness said.

The men then took his marijuana and fled from the scene, prosecutors said.

Jurors deliberated Wednesday afternoon before convicting Blake, who is now 23, of four charges: second-degree murder, second-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action.

He faces up to life in prison.

Blake鈥檚 sentencing is set for June 26. Mays鈥� case is still pending.