An 18-year-old Centralia man has pleaded guilty to the lesser of two charges pending against him in connection with an April shooting in Laura Leake Park that sent two to St. Louis hospitals for treatment.
Davion Meredith pled guilty to a Class 1 felony of aggravated discharge of a firearm in exchange for a Class X felony charge of aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm being dismissed. A sentencing hearing was set for one p.m. on October 26th before Judge Mark Stedelin, who accepted the plea.
By agreement, Meredith was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond with conditions he be on electronically monitored home confinement monitored by the probation department, and have no contact with the co-defendant, or the victims, including their residences or places of employment. Meredith was also ordered not to possess or have access to a firearm or other dangerous weapon. He agreed to cooperate with the probation department in preparation of a presentence investigation.
Meredith, who was just three days shy of his 18th birthday when the shooting occurred was originally charged as a juvenile, but State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth later elected to file adult felony charges.
Co-defendant,18-year-old Shavonte Samuels of Ashley, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection with the shooting that wounded Zykevious Burnett and Nyree Dugans. Samuels was originally set to go on a jury trial on August 15th, but the trial was continued on a defense motion. A pretrial hearing is now set for August 30th.
In Samuels’ preliminary hearing, Hudspeth said the shooting occurred during a disagreement between Burnett and Samuels. Samuels is accused of pulling a gun and shooting both Burnett and Dugans. Dugans had come to the park and was standing about 15 feet away from Burnett.
Testimony indicated Meredith then pulled a gun and also allegedly fired toward Burnett.
