JASPER – A man who was previously charged with manslaughter has been indicted for murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the fatal shooting death of his girlfriend in May.
The charges were upgraded for Kristopher Tayshaun Drayton, a 24-year-old Woodville man, who has remained in custody since the incident, which occurred on the night of Tuesday, May 27. According to Jasper Chief of Police Garrett Foster, 19-year-old Keniyah Brenae Williams, of Woodville, died from a gunshot wound to the head, and Drayton had told officers that he and Williams were arguing, while in transit, when the weapon “went off and struck Keniyah.”
A probable cause affidavit revealed that Drayton had told officers he’d removed a pistol from his waistband and placed it between the driver’s seat and the center console of the vehicle in which they were travelling. Williams died shortly after being brought to the Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital emergency room.
Drayton was arrested and charged with manslaughter, and placed on a $500K bond, while authorities continued to investigate the case.
