Vigil held for Battle High School student killed in Columbia shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A candlelight vigil was held Monday evening at McKee Street Park to honor a 15-year-old Battle High School student killed in a weekend shooting.

Nearly 200 people were joined by several Columbia Police Department officers to remember the life of the teen.

Lieutenant Richard Horrell said it was important for his officers to attend the event. "We are here for them, we feel for them, we understand what's going on and we're saddened by it all," Horrell said.

The shooting Saturday morning in the 1800 block of McKee Street killed Aubry Doxley, 15, and two other people were wounded by gunfire. Several people identified Doxley in Facebook posts.

Aubry's mother, Latoya said Aubry was laying in her bed when the shots came through the window and killed her.

Since the incident, she has been working with the police to try to find answers for her daughter.

"Without a doubt I know they are keeping on top of this even keeping me posted with late-night calls when they've had developments," Doxley said.

Latoya said when she heard shots ring out that night, she didn't think it was anything out of the usual. "This is realistically every night so even that night I thought it was something normal," Doxley said.

One of the other shooting victims, identified by police as a "juvenile male," was taken by private vehicle to a hospital. The other, a man, declined medical treatment at the scene, police said.

Neighbors told ABC 17 News they heard about 10 to 20 shots that came from outside of the home while Doxley was inside.

Police have made no arrests related to the shooting.

This isn't the first shooting in the McKee St. area.

In June of 2020, a 16-year-old victim was shot at while riding his bike. In September of 2019, a woman and man were shot and killed. In September of 2017, a man was shot and killed.

Columbia Police opened a substation on McKee in 2018 to address the violence. Horrell says that is no longer there, but police are still in the area.

"We are still up here. We're working diligently, the beat officers remain in these areas to work hard," Horrell said.

Community members say the violence can't just be answered with more policing.

"We talk about black lives matter, when are we going to start talking about black on black crime? When are we going to start talking about killing one another? That's what we need to be talking about," said community activist Rev. James Gray.

Check back for updates to this developing story and watch ABC 17 News.