Dontay Tolston was 23 when he was found with a gunshot wound inside a residence on Newton Drive in Columbia, Missouri, on the night of January 2, 2014. Emergency responders took him to a local hospital, where he died in the early morning hours. Initial officers who responded to reports of shots fired did not locate a victim or suspect at first.

Investigators quickly focused on three suspects: 20-year-old Martrell Terrell Smith of Columbia, 17-year-old Derrick Copelin of New Orleans, and 20-year-old Jimiah A. Lambert of Columbia. Police described the incident as a drug deal that turned violent. Smith was arrested first and charged with second-degree murder. Copelin was found in New Orleans; he was not the shooter, cooperated with police, pleaded to possession of a controlled substance and was released after time served. Lambert was identified as the shooter, was arrested in New Orleans, extradited to Boone County, and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Anyone with information about Dontay Tolston, the Newton Drive residence, or the events of January 2, 2014, is asked to come forward.