Sikeston teen is bound over for trial on murder charge

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- What apparently began as a teen-age prank that turned deadly is now a murder trial.

Following a preliminary hearing in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon, Tiarrius Gant, 17, of Sikeston was ordered bound over for trial on charges of second degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, discharge of a weapon from a motor vehicle and second degree felony murder perpetration/attempted perpetration or flight from perpetration of a felony where a person dies in connection with a shooting. Gant is charged in the Dec. 29 shooting death of Devin Alexander, 17.

New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Lawson called three witnesses at the preliminary hearing heard by Associate Judge Joshua Underwood.

The first witness, Jamarius Robinson, testified he was with friends, including Alexander, when they saw a post on Facebook by Gant.

Robinson testified they decided to go over to the house, where Gant was sitting outside in his car with a friend. "We said we were going to scare them," he explained.

According to Robinson, after he and Alexander arrived they agreed to go up to the car and open the doors. As Robinson approached the driver's side door, he stated Alexander went to the passenger's door and opened it.

"It happened real fast," Robinson told the court, adding he heard a shot after Alexander opened the car door.

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