Boone County prosecutors drop murder charge for man accused in fatal downtown shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County prosecutors have dropped a murder charge against a man accused in the killing of a Sturgeon man in July 2020.

Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said in an email that 24-year-old Kesan McNeal is no longer charged with murder, armed criminal action or unlawful use of a weapon in the early morning shooting death of 38-year-old Joseph Hecht.

McNeal and 24-year-old Marlin C. Johnson are both charged in connection with Hecht's death after he was killed in downtown Columbia.

The prosecution agreed to a plea deal with McNeal in a court hearing on Tuesday. Swingle said McNeal pleaded guilty to a count of hindering the prosecution of a felony.

"McNeal pled guilty... for providing transportation to someone who had just committed the felony of unlawful use of a weapon for shooting from a car," Swingle said.

McNeal had previously pleaded not guilty in the case, according to online court records.

Swingle said the E class felony carries a sentence of probation up to four years in prison. Court records say the next hearing in McNeal's case is scheduled for June 14.

Johnson faces felony counts of murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a firearm. Online court records say Johnson's next court hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Police say surveillance footage shows Johnson, McNeal and Hecht at various locations around downtown before the 12:40 a.m. shooting at 8th and Locust streets. The investigators say it's unclear if there was an exchange before the shooting.

Johnson turned himself over to police custody days after the shooting.

Online Boone County Jail records said as of Thursday Johnson was being held on a $1 million bond and McNeal's bond was set at $500,000.