Teen’s family speaks out after this weekend’s fatal shooting
Olivia Hayes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The family of Zarian Simpson is speaking out after one of people accused in the robbery and killing of Simpson appeared in court on Wednesday.
Simpson was killed on Sunday night at a Columbia apartment complex.
Steven Padden, 34, of Columbia is charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and second-degree felony murder. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A hearing was held on Wednesday where Paden appeared by video from the jail. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, June 26; while a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, July 15.
Nathan Simpson, Zarian’s older brother, described Zarian as bright, intelligent and hardworking.
“He could do anything he put his mind to. I’m not even kidding. Like anything he wanted to do, he did it,” Nathan Simpson said.
Zarian Simpson just graduated from Hickman High School in May. His brother said he was saving up to buy a new car.
“He wanted a Corvette actually,” Nathan Simpson said. “My little brother fixed them cars, you know that? He did that himself. He put them together, he did the wraps, he did the star lights, all of it.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol statistics show that Columbia has had 133 gun-related crimes this year. People ages 10-17 were the largest age group of those arrested for violent crime in Columbia, according to the data.
Nathan Simpson is urging the parents of teenagers to step up and break the cycle of violence.
“Half of these parents out here right now; You can’t even call them asking where the kids are. They don’t know. They don’t care. They just let their kids do whatever they want. And what’s even worse is have these parents is condoning it. They do it with them,” Nathan Simpson said.
Three teens are also behind bars awaiting their first court appearances. Two of the teens will face a judge on Friday morning.
The City of Columbia’s Office of Crime Prevention told ABC 17 News that after the events over the weekend, it’s looking into prevention and intervention strategies to help lower crime rates amongst youth in the area.