Prosecutors drop case against one Columbia teen murder suspect, could refile later

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Prosecutors have dropped a murder case against one of the four teen suspects in another teen's Columbia killing.

Boone County prosecutor Roger Johnson told ABC 17 News that the state dropped the case against 19-year-old Tavan Williams-Patrick. Johnson said prosecutors plan to refile charges later. Johnson declined to comment on why the state dropped it.

Williams-Patrick was one of four teenagers accused of taking part in a shooting that killed 15-year-old Aubrey Doxley in 2022 on McKee Street. Samarion Robins, Oscar Ashford and Daniel Ayers also face murder charges for the shooting. Williams-Patrick's lawyer argued at his adult certification hearing that he cooperated with authorities and that he was a victim, having been shot.

Williams-Patrick was set to go to trial on Sept. 8.

The Boone County Prosecutor's Office has been working with the Attorney General's Office in trying the cases. Johnson said the decision to drop the case against Williams-Patrick was made in consultation with them.

Robins and Ashford are set to go to trial together on Sept. 8.