Man accused of killing a Columbia teen is sentenced to 10 years in prison

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man accused of killing a 13-year-old in 2019 has been sentenced to prison time Friday afternoon.

Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Shelton said in an email Cameron White was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

During a court hearing, Shelton said White agreed to plead guilty to a lower charge of involuntary manslaughter. The prosecutor said White was given the maximum punishment for the charge.

White was previously charged with murder in the deadly shooting.

White also pleaded guilty to a count of armed criminal action, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. Shelton said both sentences will run concurrently.

Court documents say White, who was 19 years old at the time, told another person he and Dajion Harris, 13, were doing drugs at a residence in the 4400 block of Rice Road on Oct. 19, 2019. Investigators say Harris showed off two guns -- White allegedly told police both of them were "just playing with them."

Harris allegedly said "hey shoot me, man," at which point White shot the teen in the head, White's probable cause statement said. The teenager was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Family members of Harris held a vigil for the teen 10 days after the shooting. It was focused on stopping gun violence.