Plea deal in connection to 14th Topeka homicide in 2023

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – A man suspected of committing Topeka’s 14th homicide in 2023 took a plea deal with prosecutors, dismissing six of the seven charges filed.

On Friday, Christopher Lamar Brown, 36, of Topeka pleaded guilty to an amended charge of voluntary manslaughter in connection to the April 17 shooting and killing of Sherman Coleman, Jr., 33, of Topeka. The killing happened in the 2300 block of Bellview, near 10th and California in east Topeka.

Brown had been charged with murder in the 1st degree but the charge was later amended to voluntary manslaughter. Brown’s plea deal resulted in the murder in the 2nd degree, aggravated robbery, aggravated endangering of a child, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, distributing marijuana between 25 and 450 grams and possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture charges being dismissed.

Sentencing for Brown is scheduled for 3 p.m. on August 26. Brown was advised of his duty to register as a violent offender.

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