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Columbia teenager to be sentenced for Jago murder in April

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An 18-year-old Columbia man will be sentenced in April after pleading guilty this week to felony murder and a gun charge in the killing of a retiree.

Jermarion Burnett-Howard pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in the death of Janet Jago, 72, in spring 2023. Authorities say Burnett-Howard accompanied his uncle, Jermaine Burnett, in an apparent armed robbery attempt.

A judge ruled in June that Burnett-Howard, under 18 at the time of the shooting, would be tried as an adult.

Jermaine Burnett fatally shot Jago outside her home in the Highlands neighborhood and was later killed in a standoff with police.

Jago was maried to Art Jago, a retired University of Missouri professor who unsucessfully ran for a city council seat.

Burnett-Howard told police that Jago's vehicle almost hit theirs while they were driving so they followed her, according to a probable cause statement. The teenager reported the shooting to police the day after the incident.

Burnett-Howard was originally charged with first-degree attempted robbery, second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 3 before Judge Jeff Harris.

Article Topic Follows: Crime
Art Jago
Janet Jago
Jermaine Burnett
Jermarion Burnett-Howard

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Matthew Sanders

Matthew Sanders is the digital content director at ABC 17 News.

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