Preliminary hearing held for suspected shooter in February murder

COLUMBIA — The preliminary hearing for the 17-year-old suspected of pulling the trigger in the February shooting death of Ronald Cornell “Corey” Brown was continued Thursday to allow the state time to collect lab result.

Bradley Edward Enyart is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. He and his attorney, Boone County Public Defender Tony Manansala, had no objection to the continuance. Enyart's next appearance in Boone County Circuit Court will be scheduled later.

The charges stem from a Feb. 16 incident in the parking lot of Ballenger Liquor at 2201 Ballenger Lane, in which seven people met to make a deal involving marijuana, according to previous Missourian reports.

According to statements made to the police by one of the people involved in the exchange, Enyart was to meet Brown, 18, Ashtin Levi Weger and Andre Josiah Lee to sell them marijuana.

When Enyart arrived at the parking lot where Brown, Weger and Lee were waiting, he allegedly opened fire on the individuals, striking Brown in the upper leg and lower abdomen, according to previous Missourian reports. Brown was later pronounced dead at University Hospital.

Enyart was certified to stand trial as an adult in March. He is being held at Boone County Jail on $1 million bond.