Two teens involved in the 2019 gunshot death of TaJuan Williams in Mexico have been sentenced to prison.
Demetric Dorsey, 17, received 10 years for one count of first degree involuntary …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous website, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Two teens involved in the 2019 gunshot death of TaJuan Williams in Mexico have been sentenced to prison.
Demetric Dorsey, 17, received 10 years for one count of first degree involuntary manslaughter and 15 years for one count of armed criminal action. First Judicial Circuit judge Russell Steele determined that the two sentences will run concurrently.
Trebion Dorsey, also 17, received five years for his role in the 27-year-old Mexico resident’s death. The judge ruled that he is eligible to take part in the state’s Shock Incarceration Program. If he completes the 120-day commitment, he could be released on probation.
Both were tried as adults.
A third teen involved in the incident, 19-year-old Dekhise Dorsey, was sentenced earlier in the month to 10 years in prison on an involuntary manslaughter charge.
The shooting took place in Mexico on Feb. 1, 2019. A child’s birthday party turned tragic when the teenagers got into a fight and a gun was fired. The Dorseys turned themselves in to the Mexico Public Safety Department the next day.
According to Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger, the state sought 10 years for Demetric Dorsey on a first degree involuntary manslaughter charge and 20 on an armed criminal action charge, not to exceed 20 years in total.
In Trebion Dorsey’s case, the state requested 10 years for involuntary manslaughter while the defense sought probation.
Trebion Dorsey did not fire the weapon that killed Williams.
“The victim’s family was not supportive of this plea agreement or the court’s sentence,” Shellabarger reported. “I can’t say I would ever understand how a homicide victim’s family would feel, so their anger, frustration and disappointment is valid.”
Dekhise Dorsey entered a guilty plea in September. Demetric and Trebion Dorsey pleaded guilty in August. Shellabarger says the court took the Williams family’s concerns into consideration, along with the compiled evidence, the plea agreement and sentencing recommendations before handing down the decision.
“These pleas, and subsequent sentences, were in the interest of justice for our community,” Shellabarger said.
“TaJuan Williams was a son, a brother, a mentor, and friend and so much more,” he added. “No family should have to experience what the Williams family has experienced every day since the shooting.”
The county’s prosecuting attorney praised the work of MPSD officers in their investigative work, as well as the witnesses who came forward.
