Teen charged with murder in 2024 Randolph County shooting
Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia teenager was charged as an adult with murder in Randolph County on Monday, a year after he was accused of shooting a man to death.
Da’Caveon W. Nelson, 17, has been certified as an adult. Prosecutors have asked that he be brought to the Randolph County Jail from the Clay County, Missouri, juvenile detention center, where he has been held since May. He is currently being held at the Boone County Jail.
He was charged Monday with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree robbery in the Nov. 10, 2024, shooting death of Ethan March, 22.
Nelson was arraigned Monday afternoon in Randolph County where he pleaded not guilty, according to Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford.
“We decided to certify Mr. Nelson as an adult this morning so there for thats what prompted my office to file charges because now the juvenile court no longer has jurisdiction,” Luntsford said.
March was found with a gunshot wound in a home on County Road 2605.
At the time, investigators said they had taken a 16-year-old Columbia boy into custody as a suspect in the shooting, along with a 15-year-old girl who is listed in court documents as Nelson’s girlfriend. A deputy told ABC 17 News after the shooting that authorities found the two teenagers in the woods.
Nelson allegedly told authorities after his arrest that he had shot March, according to a probable cause statement. Nelson’s girlfriend had blood spatter on her, the statement says.
The statement says Nelson shot March — whose name is redacted in the documents — while he was stealing a gun.
With Nelson charged as an adult, Luntsford says she taking the next steps in the legal process.
“We will begin the discovery process we will get it set for a preliminary hearing, I’m sure there will be bond arguments to come in the future,” she said.
March’s mother, Leea Burton said in a statement,” All we know is that he was certified as an adult today, we pray for justice to be served for out son!.”
ABC 17 News reached out to Nelson’s attorney.