16-year-old hit with adult murder charge in Columbia robbery

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 16-year-old boy will face the adult criminal justice system after he was charged with murder and other crimes Tuesday in connection with a robbery and shooting last June.

Deshawn D. Brown of Columbia was charged Tuesday with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and second-degree murder in the killing of Zarian Simpson. Simpson after he followed the people who had robbed him at gunpoint, court documents state.

Dispatchers heard gunfire while Simpson was on the phone with them during the chase. He went silent after the shots rang out, and his car crashed into an apartment complex near Stephens Lake Park.

Brown is accused of being one of the people in a gold SUV who allegedly robbed Simpson before his death. The SUV belongs to Brown's mother, according to court records. Police also allegedly identified Brown as a suspect through surveillance video that showed the gold SUV and Simpson's car.

Court documents say police interrogated another defendant, Rodney Moore, 16, who confirmed that Brown was part of the robbery of a person named "Z." Moore also admitted to firing a gun at Simpson's vehicle during the chase.

Brown is scheduled for an initial appearance Tuesday afternoon before Judge Kim Shaw.