The courtroom saga continues around the tragic shooting death of 16-year-old Colin Brown. In the latest development, 28-year-old Donovan Baucom has pled not guilty to a slew of charges connected with the incident. Making his first court appearance in St. Louis, Baucom, who is charged with six felonies including first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action, court attendees saw Baucom, hands shackled, smiling at his loved ones according to FOX 2. Baucom's family has reportedly faced threats since his arrest and maintain his innocence claiming he is a devoted father of three.
Despite the defense's plea for a personal recognizance bond, citing Baucom as a man with no prior violent history, and arguing for a lesser charge of second-degree murder due to the lack of motive or connection to Brown, the judge sided with the state. He ordered Baucom held without bond, with a hearing scheduled for next Thursday, as First Alert 4 reported.
Baucom's alleged accomplice, Garrett Jordan, 26, faces similar charges and also pleaded not guilty earlier this month. Both are held without bond, and surveillance and phone records place them together on the day of the shooting, as per details from Call Newspapers. The investigation employed historical phone data and witness statements connecting a dark Audi, frequently seen at the shooting site, back to Jordan and Baucom.
It was an errant bullet, during an armed incident on Interstate 55, that tore through the vehicle Colin Brown was in, ultimately taking his life days later. Solemnly frequented by individuals who wish to provide tips anonymously, anyone with further information on the case is urged to contact CrimeStoppers.
