BALTIMORE – A gunman convicted of murdering his roommate for rent money will spend the next two decades behind bars.

Markis Russell shot and killed 22-year-old Jeffrey Brooks Jr. in March 2023 over a couple hundred dollars in owed rent.

During an interview with detectives, Russell claimed Brooks pulled out a knife during an argument that led to the fatal shooting.

Russell loaded Brooks’ body into the back of his Subaru before abandoning the vehicle behind a northeast Baltimore gas station.

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Around that time, Brooks’ family reported him missing while alerting investigators to Russell, who was trying to clean up the crime scene.

On Thursday, Russell was sentenced to 60 years, but a judge suspended all but 40, meaning Russell will only spend 20 of those years behind bars, followed by five years of probation.

“Justice was served yesterday with the court’s decision to impose the maximum sentence for second-degree murder and related charges, reflecting the seriousness of this brutal crime,” said Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates. “While nothing can undo the pain caused to the victim’s family, we hope this outcome brings them some peace and quiet.”