Five sentenced in connection with shooting death of St. Joseph teen

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. – Five of the six suspects involved in the shooting death of a St. Joseph teen earlier this year have been sentenced.

Court records show Gabriel Dawson, 17, Jay’den Maynard, 17, Ashten Surritte, 19, and Kyle Smith, 25, were sentenced this week in Buchanan County.

A probable cause statement says Dayne Matthews, 19, conspired with Justin Smith, 20, to sell a quarter pound of marijuana to Skylar Powell, 18. Powell arrived at the designated area, near 22^nd and Colhoun in St. Joseph, with Dawson. Justin Smith stated Dawson pulled a gun during the deal and shots were exchanged between both parties, leaving Powell dead.

Kyle Smith is charged with possession with the intent to distribute for allegedly supplying Justin Smith with the marijuana. Court records indicate Kyle Smith gave Justin Smith the marijuana with the intent for resale. Kyle is also charged with tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution after taking possession of the semiautomatic used in the shooting and disposed of the weapon in order to prevent the discovery of that weapon by law enforcement, obstructing the prosecution of Justin Smith. Kyle Smith has been sentenced to 12 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Maynard and Surrite pleaded guilty in October to charges of attempted robbery in the first degree for setting up Matthews and Powell for the drug deal. Court documents state Surritte supplied Powell with Matthews’ phone number and picture. Maynard was granted probation after serving 120 days in county jail. Surritte was sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Dawson has been sentenced to 14 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for attempted robbery in the first degree.

Justin Smith was sentenced in October to 13 years in the Department of Corrections for armed criminal action and possession with the intent to distribute.

Matthews’ sentencing has been rescheduled to January due to illness. Matthews pleaded guilty to charges of possession with the intent to distribute and tampering with evidence.