Man pleads guilty to assault in 2023 Columbia gas station shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two felonies related to a shooting that occurred last year outside of a gas station in east Columbia.

Kentrail Taylor, 29, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and shooting from a vehicle, according to an email from Assistant Boone County Prosecutor Paul Wade. Taylor will be sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 24.

Taylor was previously charged with three counts of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, four counts of armed criminal action, first-degree property damage and endangering the welfare of a child.

Taylor was accused of shooting at Royelle Hunt after a confrontation at the Hy-Vee gas station on Conley Road. Hunt was also charged in the case, but was found dead at a separate shooting scene on March 20, 2024.

According to court documents in previous reporting, Hunt showed up to the gas station in 2023 while Taylor was walking out of the gas station. Hunt was allegedly wearing a bulletproof vest and was holding a gun while approaching Taylor, police wrote.

A woman in a vehicle allegedly tried to get Hunt to stop confronting Taylor. Hunt and another person were allegedly seen on security footage ducking behind an SUV. A woman gave Taylor a ride from the area and he began shooting from the car, the statement says. He was eventually arrested.

Court documents in previous reporting claimed there were people with gunshot wounds.