UPDATED 1/11/23

Howard County Prosecutor Deborah Riekhof on Thursday filed a second amended complaint against Kundarrius Kinte Taylor, the 23-year-old Memphis, Tennessee, man accused of shooting to death fellow Central Methodist University student and football player Torrance Evans on August 25 of last year.
Mr. Taylor now faces a charge of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, a Class C felony. He had formerly been charged with first-degree murder.
The second amended felony complaint states that on or about August 25, 2022, Mr. Taylor “recklessly caused the death of Torrance K. Evans Jr by shooting him.”
In an interview with the Fayette Advertiser on Friday morning, Mrs. Riekhof said that at this time, she does not have sufficient evidence to pursue a murder charge.
“It’s always an ongoing investigation,” said Mrs. Riekhof. “There has been additional evidence acquired in the interim. And at this point, I don’t feel like the state can pursue a murder charge. That’s based on the evidence I have in my possession at this time.”
Mr. Taylor appeared in Howard County court on Thursday morning with his attorney, Benjamin Sidney Faber. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Instead, Mr. Taylor waived his right to a formal arraignment of the new charge and waived his right to the preliminary hearing.
He remains in custody without bond in the Howard County Jail.
Mr. Faber argued before Judge Mason Gebhardt for his client to receive bond, given the reduced charge. However, Judge Gebhardt stated that he was not agreeable to any bond reduction. “It’s still a homicide,” the judge said.
Mr. Faber argued that an admission of guilt attributed to Mr. Taylor in the probable cause statement filed by Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Nathan J. Shinkle was, in fact, the words of the trooper, not his client.
“Mr. Taylor did not say that,” Mr. Faber flatly stated. “The discovery provided by the state does not support the probable cause statement.
“It’s not a murder case anymore, it’s a Class C Felony,” Mr. Faber argued.
Mrs. Riekhof told the court that she believed that while Mr. Taylor had not explicitly “stated he shot Evans two times,” as is written in the probable cause statement, that he agreed to those words later in an interview with the officer.
Online docket language from Thursday’s hearing states that the “Court denies any change in bond, finding that the clear and convincing evidence is that the current conditions are the least restrictive to secure appearance and safety.”
The Advertiser reached out to Mr. Faber, but he has not responded to our request for further inquiries.
As was previously reported in the Advertiser, Mr. Taylor was charged with first-degree murder on the afternoon of August 26, the day after he allegedly shot Mr. Evans, his roommate, two times on the evening of August 25 at an off-campus rental home on Linn Street in Fayette, about a block from the university. He then reportedly left, but later reappeared at the scene where he turned himself in to Fayette police officer John Schell.
Mr. Taylor allegedly carried the gun onto the Central Methodist campus between the time of the shooting, and when he surrendered to Officer Schell. Mrs. Riekhof said she has not determined if she will pursue a charge for possession of a firearm on campus.
According to a probable cause statement filed by MSHP Cpl. Shinkle, Mr. Taylor admitted under questioning that he had not been getting along with Mr. Evans for over a month and indicated that he felt disrespected on numerous occasions.
Mr. Taylor said that on the day of the shooting, Mr. Evans was making verbal requests and/or demands. He told Mr. Evans to wait. When Mr. Evans persisted, Mr. Taylor brandished a handgun from his backpack, chambered a round, and advised Mr. Evans to stop.
Mr. Evans then advanced toward Mr. Taylor, who fired the pistol. Mr. Taylor admitted to then shooting Mr. Evans a second time, either while he was falling or after he had fallen.
The Central Methodist campus was put on lockdown for a brief period following the shooting.
Following Thursday’s hearing, the case was bound over to Circuit Court where it may now proceed to the trial phase. Mr. Taylor is scheduled to be arraigned by Circuit 14 Presiding Judge Scott Hayes at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18, in Howard County court. It is expected that Mr. Faber will petition Judge Hayes for a reduction in bond.
Mrs. Riekhof said she has not decided whether or not she will agree to a bond reduction.
First-degree involuntary manslaughter carries a punishment of three to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.