Georgia man sentenced in 2022 revenge killing

3 months ago 6

ST. LOUIS – A Georgia man appeared in St. Louis Circuit Court on Thursday and admitted to gunning a man down in the city’s Academy neighborhood more than two years ago.

Vernell Julion, 21, was shot and killed on July 21, 2022, in the 1100 block of North Kingshighway Boulevard.

Police said Darius Griffin, now 33, was parked outside Pop’s Fish and Chicken Market waiting for Julion. Griffin believed Julion was responsible for killing his 16-year-old cousin two weeks prior.

Investigators said Griffin watched and waited until Julion appeared alone in an alley behind a building. Griffin donned a blue ski mask and got out of his car with an AK-47.