EDWARDSVILLE. Ill (First Alert 4) - A St. Louis man was found guilty on Wednesday for the shooting and killing of his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend.

Stanford Stokes, 44, was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder of Jarred Hayes on Seventh Street in Alton on Nov. 7, 2023.

According to evidence from Assistant State attorneys Audrey Paulda and Luke Yager, Stokes entered the residence in Alton by force after hearing his ex-girlfriend with Hayes.

In her opening statement, Paudla told jurors Stokes became angry “and took that anger out on Jarred Hayes.”

Stokes said he took the gun from his former girlfriend’s purse in self-defense because he saw Hayes had a gun.

Before entering the residence, Stokes had called his ex-girlfriend and left a voicemail that recorded the shooting. After

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