Columbia teen murder suspect takes plea deal
Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia teenager reached a plea deal with prosecutors Wednesday to drop a murder charge against him.
Cordero L. Riley Jr., 17, pleaded guilty in a Boone County court to unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree assault. Sentencing is set for Sept. 15. He remains in the Boone County jail pending sentencing.
Riley was charged as an adult last November with first-degree assault, second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action in the death of Trevon Ashcraft, 18, in May 2024.
According to court documents, police used security footage to identify Riley as “subject 2,” who was wearing a black hoodie and pants along with a red ski mask during the shooting on Rice Road.
The probable cause statement says Riley can be seen on the security footage talking with other suspects outside the home and later, with a gun in his hand, ducking from bullets fired from the road.
The statement says Riley and another suspect later shot toward the black SUV, firing down Boyd Lane. The video shows Riley and one of his companions moving while firing. Riley’s companion moves into the line of fire and is fatally struck, the statement says.
Police say he told officers he did not know who he was shooting at, but they were 10 houses away. He also allegedly told police he continued to shoot the gun until it ran out of ammunition.
Quanina Lakeitha Lambert was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree murder and hindering a felony prosecution. Lambert took a plea deal last month, pleading guilty to second-degree assault and child endangerment. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Jordan Jerodisiah Brantley was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree murder and armed criminal action. A hearing is set for Aug. 18.