2 men sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2022 Columbia murder case
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two men charged in a deadly 2022 shooting in Columbia were sentenced on Monday to 18 years in prison.
Oscar Ashford and Samarion Robins entered guilty pleas last week to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. The two are charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Aubrey Doxley on McKee Street in 2022.
The were were set to go to trial Monday but took a plea deal last week.
Ashford's attorney, Stephen Concannon said a trail was avoided due to risks. After the sentencing, Concannon reflected on the outcome.
"This is a situation where no one is happy" Concannon said. "One thing I feel successful about is that he was a young man when this happened; and when he leaves prison he will still be a young man. So, we were able to salvage the biggest portion of his life, so I do see that as a success."
Doxley's family agreed to the plea agreement, due to not wanting to go to trial.
"I never win, I don't win in this no matter what, nothing changed for me today I still buried my baby and I have to live with that," Latoya Doxley, Aubrey Doxley's mother said.
Latoya and four others read victim impact statements at Monday's sentencing.
All described the pain the two men have caused since the shooting nearly four years ago. While statements were read, the two men looked straight forward or would look at the person speaking.
Latoya spoke for several minutes and said though she forgives the man, she still wants the truth to come out.
"I forgive yall I always have from the beginning because yall are just babies, but that was my baby," She said. "I pray in my heart it don't have to be now yall it don't have to be tomorrow tell yall moms the truth yall know what happened and you know what you did, if you never tell anyone else tell your moms the truth,"
In her statement, Latoya reflected on her struggle to be angry at the men for taking her daughter's life.
"I do not hate you no matter how much I've tried or wish that I did, that upsets me because how can I not after what was taken from me," Latoya said. "But, I look at you now and even then and I just see babies but mother in me won't let me hate you even though you walk in her I don't see remorse but I understand."
To keep Aubrey's memory from living on, Latoya says her and her family will continue to celebrate her birthday, and honor her on the day of her death.
"Everybody loved her, she had her own individual relation with everyone in the family so it has impacted us extremely," Latoya said.
At the pretrial conference, prosecutors revealed cell phone data that they said showed Robins and Ashford in the area of McKee Street when the shooting happened that left Doxley dead and two others hurt.
One of those hurt included Tavan Williams-Patrick. Court documents placed him in the back seat of the car during the shooting. Charges were dropped against Williams-Patrick in August.
Prosecutors said cellphone data also placed Ashford and Robins at an area hospital following the shooting, when Williams-Patrick was dropped off.
Ayers is charged with felony murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. A hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, while a pretrial conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 3. A jury trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 14.
According to court documents, he allegedly told Doxley's cousin what happened and claimed Ashford was driving the car while Robins fire shoots out of the passenger window.
However, the state believes the shooting was retaliation for a shooting Ayers was involved in days prior, along with conflicts dating back to 2020.
