SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A 17-year-old Springfield girl has been charged as an adult with second-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Miles Young, according to court documents and the Springfield Police Department.
What authorities say happened
Greene County deputies and Springfield police detail a sequence that began with online messages and ended with gunfire in a neighborhood between James River Freeway and Republic Road. The incident unfolded on March 12, 2026, on the 3800 block of West Maplewood, where deputies found Young with a gunshot wound. He later died from that injury.
- Defendant: Amaya Tannehill, 17, charged as an adult.
- Victim: Miles Young, 15, died of a gunshot wound.
- Others involved: Yefry Archaga, Praize King, and two juveniles were named in court records.
According to probable cause statements, Tannehill began messaging Young on Snapchat, arranging a meeting that Young believed would leave him alone with Tannehill. He provided an address and later entered Tannehill’s car after checking the trunk. Court documents say Tannehill was driving with Young inside when another vehicle containing Praize King and Yefry Archaga stopped in front of them.
Witness accounts and immediate actions
Witnesses told police they suspected a setup and warned Young not to go with Tannehill. When the two cars met, the accounts say Young exited Tannehill’s vehicle and ran. Officers say King and Archaga, armed with handguns, got out of their car and chased Young. During the confrontation, Archaga struck Young with a pistol and fired one shot into the air, police say. Shortly afterward, additional gunfire occurred.
"I just don't wanna die,"
Those were the words a witness on the phone reported hearing from Young moments before two more gunshots, according to the probable cause statement. Two juveniles who had been in the second car fled the scene.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | Tannehill and Young meet on West Maplewood; Young is shot and later dies |
| During confrontation | Archaga reportedly hits Young with a pistol and fires a shot in the air; two additional shots follow |
Legal posture and local implications
Tannehill has been charged as an adult, a decision prosecutors typically reserve for serious crimes or when the suspect is near adulthood. The charge of second-degree murder signals authorities believe there was intent or a depraved indifference to human life, as captured in the probable cause filing. The case names additional local youths and adults who are under investigation or identified in court documents.
For Springfield residents, the case raises questions about youth violence, the role of social media in arranging confrontations, and the safety of neighborhoods near major corridors such as James River Freeway and Republic Road. Law enforcement has emphasized that the events unfolded quickly and involved multiple people moving between vehicles and public streets.
As the criminal process moves forward, public records and court proceedings will provide more detail about each person named in the filing, the evidence authorities have gathered, and whether additional charges will follow. The community will be watching how prosecutors handle a case that blends digital contact and real-world violence among local teens.
