A 15-year-old Jefferson City boy has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in connection with the Nov. 19 killing of Nilez Nichols, 19.
Bruce L. Thomas was charged as an adult under a state law that allows an adult second-degree murder charge for a "child between the ages of 12 and 17 (who) has committed an offense which would be considered a felony if committed by an adult."Nichols, of Jefferson City, died from a single gunshot wound he received as he chased after suspects of an armed robbery at his residence in the 1900 block of Stadium Boulevard.
Semaj Harris, 20, of Jefferson City, was charged earlier this week with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in the case.
In a probable cause statement filed with the charges Thursday, police said Thomas went to the residence with two other people to obtain marijuana, and admitted to police he had been in contact with a resident of the home and had reached an agreement to purchase an ounce of marijuana.
Thomas also admitted he went to the residence with the intent of taking the marijuana without paying for it. The police statement said Thomas also asked the resident about firearms for sale, and the resident showed Thomas a handgun that the teen showed interest in.
Police said Thomas told them he and the resident got into a fight over the pistol and drugs, and that the resident was injured in that altercation.
Police said the front door of the residence was forced open during the altercation by an accomplice who also was armed with a gun.
In a separate probable cause statement filed with the charges against Harris, police said Harris admitted to forcing open the door. In that statement, the victim of the robbery, who has not been identified, identified Harris as the person who forced open the door and pointed a firearm at him.
Harris has denied holding a weapon.
Thomas told police he stole the victim's drugs and firearm. The victim then called out to his roommate, Nichols, for help, telling him to chase after the suspects as they ran from the home.
Police said Nichols chased Thomas and a co-defendant from the home, and then was shot while on the sidewalk in front of the house.
Police said Thomas was fleeing the residence with the firearm and drugs when Nichols was shot. Nichols retreated back into his home, where he collapsed and died of his injuries.
The second-degree murder and first-degree robbery charges Thomas faces are both class A felonies. If convicted of the charges, state law sets a maximum prison sentence of 10-30 years, or life (which is calculated at 30 years).
Prosecutors noted in Thomas' felony complaint that a person convicted and sentenced for the class A felony of second-degree murder is not be eligible for parole until 85 percent of the sentence is served.
Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler confirmed Thursday that Thomas was in custody. His cash-only bond was set at $100,000. No court hearings have been set for Thomas, and online court records did not show he has an attorney.
Harris was arraigned Thursday, and the public defender's office was assigned to represent him. Harris is set for another court hearing Dec. 27.