Family Seeks Answers After Suspect in Columbia Killing Released

The family of Kornell Willis is still searching for answers six years after he was shot and killed in a Columbia apartment, as the woman accused of the murder remains free and the case sits listed as inactive. Leona Toatley, Willis’ former girlfriend and the mother of his children, was found incompetent to stand trial in December 2023, WACH reported, leading to her release from custody.

A fatal encounter at Gable Oaks Apartments

The violence began on July 14, 2020. Columbia police responded to the Gable Oaks Apartments after neighbors reported the sounds of screaming and gunshots. Upon arrival, officers discovered Toatley’s children huddled in a stairwell. They told police that Toatley had shot Willis inside the apartment. Willis was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Shayla Smith, who was Willis’ girlfriend at the time, said he had gone into the apartment for only five or six minutes to pick up his children and introduce her to Toatley. Smith remained in the car, hearing the gunshots and the children’s screams from the street.

Willis would have turned 36 this month. For his mother, Linda Willis, the passage of time hasn’t dulled the shock. I just broke down. That was my baby, she said.

The legal void of incompetency

The central frustration for the Willis family lies in the December 2023 court ruling that found Leona Toatley incompetent to stand trial.

Public records show that following this ruling, Toatley was released from custody and the case was marked as inactive. However, the family argues that the reality of Toatley’s daily life contradicts the notion that she is unfit to face a courtroom. Laquanda Brunson, Willis’ sister-in-law, noted that Toatley appears capable of participating in society and attending parties.

Probate court officials have stated they cannot release details about Toatley’s mental health evaluation.

New shooting allegations increase community fear

The family’s anxiety shifted from frustration to fear in August 2024. Columbia police reported that Toatley and her sister, Jamila, were accused of shooting at a man on Ripplemeyer Avenue.

For Shayla Smith, the Ripplemeyer Avenue incident is a chilling reminder of how close she came to death in 2020. Had I got out the car, you basically would have had two bodies, Smith said. She now questions who is ensuring that Toatley does not attempt to finish what she started.

Silence from the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office

Despite the gravity of the situation, the family says they have been left to do their own investigative work. They claim they have not heard from a victim’s advocate and have received minimal updates on the case status.

When contacted for clarification on whether another competency review is underway or what the next steps for the prosecution are, the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office declined to comment, stating the case is pending. They directed the family to a victim’s advocate—the very resource the family says has been absent.

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