A Boonville teenager was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly pointing a handgun at a group of other teens on the Fayette square. Kadyn Josiah Lee, 19, is currently being held without bond in the Howard County Jail, charged with unlawful use of a weapon - exhibiting, a Class E felony. 

According to a probable cause statement, sheriff’s deputy Mason Ray was dispatched shortly before 5 p.m. for a complaint that a black male was pointing a gun at a group of juveniles on the courthouse lawn in downtown Fayette.

“Juveniles said they were just sitting at the courthouse lawn,” the statement reads. “Kaydyn starts saying to one of the juveniles that he don’t want nothing added they don’t wanna mess with him.”

Witnesses reported that Lee lifted his arms, exposing a handgun in his waistband, before leaving in a car driven by Jasmine Key.

The juveniles told the officer that the car later drove past the square. Lee pointed the gun at them and asked, “Who wants to die?” before driving away.

Law enforcement later located the car in the New Franklin area. A Glock 9mm with a 40-round magazine was found in Lee’s waistband. He was taken to the Howard County Jail for a 24-hour hold.

Judge Mason Gebhardt denied bond during an arraignment held Friday morning in Howard County Court.

Eric Phelps represented the state as a special prosecutor in the absence of Howard County Prosecutor Deborah Riekhof, who was out of state through September 10, according to online court records. Lee was referred to the public defender for representation.

A bond review hearing was set for 2 p.m. on Monday, September 16. 

The punishment for the Class E felony ranges from one to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections or a year in the county jail and can include a fine of up to $10,000.