Man accused in deadly Douglass Park stabbing deemed competent to stand trial

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man accused in a deadly 2024 stabbing at Columbia’s Douglass Park has been deemed competent to stand trial.

Demetrice M. Tatum, 41, of Columbia, was charged in April 2024 with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after he allegedly stabbed Kejuan Allen to death at Douglass Park. He appears on the Boone County Jail roster, but court filings say he is still being held by the Department of Mental Health.

According to previous reporting, a witness stated in court documents that Tatum used a stun gun on Allen before he cut Allen’s throat and stabbed him 20 times.

Tatum’s attorney had previously filed an objection to a September motion to proceed that was filed by the DMH. Attorney Edward Luby withdrew the objection on Friday, according to court filings.  

A hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7.