Columbia teen charged with murder accused of firing gun into victim’s vehicle
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Police suspect a Columbia teen who was charged as an adult with murder Friday could have fired a gun into the victim's vehicle, according to a probable cause statement.
Rodney Moore Jr., 16, was charged on Thursday with second-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action in the death of 18-year-old Zarian Simpson in June 2025.
Officers were sent to the Eastgate Apartments at Old 63 and Broadway on June 15 when police found Simpson with a gunshot wound and he was treated at the scene.
Simpson later died at an area hospital. He had graduated from Hickman High School a month before.
Court documents state Boone County Joint Communications received a 911 call just before 8 p.m. from Simpson, reporting he had been hit in the face with a gun and his bag was stolen. Police said Simpson told dispatchers he was following the suspects in his car when shots were heard and he stopped responding.
At the same time, BCJC reported getting multiple reports of shots being fired on Sunrise Drive. Court documents state a caller said a purple Camaro ran into his deck and the man inside the car was hit. Police said another witness saw a man in all black clothing run away and put a gun in his pants after the shots.
Police believe the person in black clothing was Moore, according to the probable cause statement filed in his case. They placed Moore at the murder scene in part by location data in the Life360 cellphone app.
Prosecutors wrote in new court documents that Moore also allegedly pistol-whipped Simpson and shot at him.
Steven Paden IV, 34, was charged with robbery in the first degree, armed criminal action and second-degree murder in the death of Simpson in June.
Two juveniles were taken into custody with Paden for their roles. Moore's probable cause statement says Paden is in a relationship with the mother of those two juveniles.
Paden is set to go to trial in June.
Moore pleaded not guilty through is lawyer Friday afternoon. He is being held without bond.
A hearing on a motion to reduce Moore's bond will be held next week.
