An 18-year-old Ashley man made his first Marion County Court appearance on Friday on two Class X charges of aggravated battery with the discharge of a firearm and two Class 1 felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm.
The charges against Samuel Shavonte of East Clay stem from an April 17th shooting incident in Laura Leake Park that sent two to St. Louis hospitals for treatment.
Shavonte and a 17-year-old juvenile were both arrested on outstanding warrants issued in connection with the shooting last week. They were returned to the Marion County Jail via prisoner transport on Thursday from Anderson Indiana where they were arrested on an outstanding warrant.
The charges do contain some additional information about the shooting, including the two adult victims whose names had not been previously released. Shavonte is accused of shooting Zykevious Burnett in the body with a firearm and shooting Nyree Dugans in the leg with a firearm. The aggravated discharge of a firearm charge claim Shavonte discharged the gun in the direction of the two men.
Bond on the warrant had previously been set at a half-million dollars. Shavonte told the court Friday he wants time to hire his own attorney. The first appearance with counsel is set for May 31st.
The juvenile arrested with Shavonte has also been returned to Marion County where he is being held in the county jail since he has now turned 18.
Marion County State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth says those involved in the shooting had gathered in the park and the two charged allegedly drew guns during a disagreement. Both were initially taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and later transferred to St. Louis hospitals for treatment.
