An Arnold man who fatally shot his roommate in a 2013 incident was convicted of first-degree involuntary manslaughter today (April 13) in a bench trial before Jefferson County Div. 3 Circuit Judge Nathan Stewart.
Keith James Wildharber, now 24, previoulsy had been charged in connection with the July 29, 2013, death of Matthew Raymond Knight, 26, at their apartment in the 3200 block of Richardson Place Drive.
Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 14. The maximum penalty for the class C felony is seven years in prison and/or a fine of $5,000.
Doug Pribble, the assistant prosecuting attorney who represented Jefferson County in the case, said he was disappointed the judge did not agree with the prosecution’s pursuit of second-degree murder.
“First of all, we respect Judge Stewart’s decision,” Pribble said. “I felt the evidence was sufficient for a charge of murder in the second degree. That’s my opinion, of course. Again, I respect the judge’s decision.”
According to the case’s probable-cause statement, the two roommates and a third person were drinking alcohol in the apartment around 10:47 p.m. when Wildharber pulled a Ruger P95 9 mm pistol from his waistband. He partially removed the magazine and ejected live ammunition from the chamber, reinserted the magazine and pointed the gun at the victim. After asking if the victim trusted him, Wildharber pulled the trigger and shot the victim in the torso.
Knight was taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County, where he was pronounced dead at 12:27 a.m. July 30, 2013, the report states.
During the investigation, Wildharber admitted shooting Knight, the report states.
Wildharber was returned to Jefferson County Jail after the trial, where he awaits sentencing, Pribble said.