ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The father of a 15-year-old who police said was shot and killed while trying to rob someone during a drug deal is now facing charges after allegedly threatening a graduation ceremony.
Samuel Starns was charged with second-degree making a terrorist threat after police said he threatened to cause harm to an upcoming high school graduation.
According to charging documents, Starns found out that some of the people charged in connection with his son's death would be graduating at a ceremony at Chaifeitz Arena later this year. He then called a police detective and left a message saying "if they walk across the stage, the detective needed to have the entire police force present at the ceremony," according to charging documents.
Starns' 15-year-old son Colin Courtwright and 16-year-old Tyree Williams were shot and killed on Feb. 5 in the 5600 block of Chalet Hill Drive.
Trevor Daley, 20, Tyler Coleman, 19, Zachary Hough, 18, and Bryce Mers, 18, have all been charged in connection with the shooting that police said was the result of an attempted robbery during a planned drug deal for marijuana cartridges.
According to a probable cause statement, Mers planned an exchange of marijuana cartridges for money with Hough through Snapchat. He told several other people on Feb. 5 that he planned to rob Hough.
Mers arrived with Courtwright and Williams to the planned exchange.
Police said Williams stood outside while Courtwright got into another car, occupied by Hough, Coleman and Daley.
During the exchange, Courtwright pointed a gun at Hough and announced a robbery, police said. Daley then shot and killed Courtwright and Williams, police said. Mers was also shot and wounded.
According to online court documents, Coleman and Hough posted bond and were released and placed under GPS monitoring.
In February, Jessica Pupillo with Mehlville School District confirmed both Coleman and Hough are seniors at Oakville High School.
5 On Your Side spoke with Starns the day after the deadly shooting. During the interview, he said he was in disbelief and called Courtwright his best friend.
"He's got family and friends that love him," Starns said about his son. "I just don't believe it, until we're standing here talking, I don't believe it. It's like I'm sleeping."
Starns was taken into custody and is being held on a $100,000 bond.
