KENNETT — Two Malden teenagers were ordered to stand trial earlier this week for their alleged roles in the death of another teen, who authorities say was beaten over a dispute involving money and drugs.
On Monday, Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain amended the charges against Jalen Dashawn Miller and Malcomb Townsend McBride.
The 17-year-olds now are charged with the Class A felony of second-degree murder and the Class E felony of third-degree assault.
The amended complaint alleges on Oct. 21 “Dante Gibson was killed by being struck or kicked as the result of the perpetration of the Class E felony of assault.”
The pair originally had been charged with second-degree murder and the Class A felony of first-degree assault in connection to the 17-year-old’s death.
The day after the charges were amended, both teens appeared separately with their attorney before Associate Circuit Judge John Spielman for a preliminary hearing in their cases.
During their hearings, according to Casenet, Miller and McBride waived having a preliminary hearing their case.
Spielman reportedly accepted the teens’ waivers and ordered Miller to appear at 10 a.m. Feb. 13 before Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer for arraignment on the charges.
McBride was ordered to appear at 10 a.m. Feb. 27 before Mayer for arraignment.
Both teens continue to be held without bond in the Dunklin County Justice Center as does their codefendant, Jordan Paul Morgan, 19, of Bernie.
Morgan appeared in court in November and waived having a preliminary hearing on his charges — the Class A felonies of second-degree murder and first-degree assault.
Morgan is to appear Feb. 13 before Mayer for a review of his case.
The charges against the teens stem from an investigation by the Malden Police Department, Dunklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol and its Division of Drug and Crime Control.
At about 3:35 a.m. Oct. 21, according to earlier reports, Malden officers responded to a report of an unresponsive male at a residence in the 100 block of West Cleveland Street.
Gibson was found unresponsive, laying on the home’s front porch, Malden Chief Jarrett Bullock wrote in his probable-cause statement. The teen had what were described as abrasions on both sides of his face and head.
Emergency responders began CPR on Gibson, who later died at SoutheastHEALTH in Dexter. Gibson’s cause of death has not been released.
During the investigation into the teen’s death, Bullock said, officers spoke to two witnesses, who reported Gibson had been in an altercation with multiple people, including McBride and Morgan.
McBride, Morgan and Miller also were interviewed.
McBride, Bullock said, reported they had been in contact with Gibson by social media messaging and had made arrangements to meet Gibson near his home.
McBride alleged Miller and Morgan had been involved in an ongoing dispute with Gibson over money/drugs, Bullock said.
“McBride indicated that he was the one who had messaged the victim for the purpose of distributing marijuana,” Bullock said.
After the teens arrived at a Beckwith Street location, Bullock said, McBride reported a physical altercation began with Gibson.
“McBride said the victim ran away from Miller and Morgan as the fight progressed,” Bullock said. “At the conclusion of the fight, McBride stated the victim was on the ground, Morgan ran from the scene, and Miller returned to the car, and they drove away.”
Miller, according to Bullock, admitted to punching Gibson in the ribs, as well as kicking the teen while he was on the ground.
“Miller said Morgan struck the victim numerous times,” Bullock said.
In Morgan’s interview, the chief said, the teen reported their intentions were to “steal the money, which … would be payback for the money” allegedly owed by Gibson.
Morgan, Bullock said, alleged both he and Miller “got on one side of Dante, and the two of them both punched him in the face with a closed fist.
“Jordan said as they were assaulting Dante, Dante’s arms went limp …”