In the early evening of a Sunday in Columbia, Missouri, the life of 18-year-old Zarian Simpson, a Black male, was tragically cut short. On June 15, 2025, at approximately 8 p.m., gunfire erupted at the Eastgate apartment complex located near the intersection of East Broadway and Old Highway 63. First responders arrived to find Simpson with a gunshot wound.
He was rushed to a local hospital, but the injury to his head proved fatal, and he died shortly after arrival.
Zarian, born in Columbia on August 30, 2006, was remembered by loved ones as a smart, kind, and hardworking young man. He was one of five brothers, and his mother had long held fears for the safety of her sons. Described as a quiet and thoughtful individual, he was a creative soul who loved music and working on cars. His death left a profound void in the lives of his family and his girlfriend, who remembered him as someone who truly saw her.
The investigation into the homicide quickly led Columbia Police Department detectives to identify suspects. Initially, it was reported that a single juvenile had been taken into custody. However, the investigation expanded, and soon four individuals were arrested in connection with the robbery and murder of Zarian Simpson. The suspects included 34-year-old Steven Paden, a convicted felon, and three juveniles, one reportedly as young as 13 years old.
Following a manhunt, Paden and two of the juveniles were apprehended in the nearby town of Glasgow. Prosecutors in Boone County charged Paden with second-degree murder and robbery, and he was jailed without bond. The juvenile initially arrested faced charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. Under state law, the names of the juvenile suspects were not publicly released pending potential certification to be tried as adults. Paden made his first court appearance via video from the Boone County Jail to hear the charges brought against him.
