Missouri man sentenced in 2023 murder of 10-year-old Belleville boy
A Missouri man was sentenced to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the shooting death of a 10-year-old boy that occurred on July 3, 2023.
Devin Dunbar, 22, whose last known address was in Florissant, Missouri, was convicted of the murder of Brandon E. Scott, who was struck by gunfire while playing a video game inside his house at 1800 Roosevelt Avenue, near Belleville.
Dunbar fired the shots, one of which struck Scott in the chest, according to charging documents from the St. Clair County court.
It took a jury two hours to find Dunbar guilty of first-degree murder in August.
Tuesday, Dunbar learned his 25-year sentence had been enhanced with an additional 35 years.
He is currently being held at the St. Clair County Jail, where he has been since his arrest nine days after the shooting.
The sentencing was in front of St. Clair County Circuit Judge John O’Gara.
Scott was a student at Henry Raab School in Belleville and was described by his teacher as “a sweet little boy” with a great sense of humor. His father, Wendel Scott Jr., spoke to the BND after charges were filed in 2023.
“My son did not deserve this,” he said. “He was inside the house playing a video game. This doesn’t make sense.”
The case was investigated by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.
Another man, Jaylen P. Nicks, 28, also was charged in connection with the shooting. He pleaded guilty to an armed violence charge in exchange for a 26-year prison sentence.
Nicks and Dunbar were acquainted with the Scott family, police said at the time.
Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Lewis and special prosecutor Crystal Uhe, from the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s office, prosecuted the case.
“We are thankful that the court imposed the maximum sentence allowed for this violent offender who took the life of an innocent 10-year-old boy,” said St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department Lt. James Hendricks. “We hope this serves as a deterrent to individuals who would commit violent acts against our community.”
This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM.
