BALTIMORE — A gunman convicted of killing his roommate over 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 rent debt of over several hundred dollars.

In an interview with detectives, Russell claimed Brooks pulled a knife during an argument that triggered the fatal shooting.

Russell loaded Brooks’ body into the back of the Subaru before leaving the vehicle behind a gas station in Northeast Baltimore.

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At that time, Brooks’ family reported Russell missing to investigators as he tried to clean up the crime scene.

On Thursday, Russell was sentenced to 60 years in prison, but a judge suspended all but 40 years; That means Russell will only spend 20 of this year 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 take away the pain felt by the victim’s family, we hope this outcome brings them some closure and peace.”