Life in prison plus 70 years for 19-year-old convicted in deadly Columbia mall double shooting

The man convicted in a deadly double shooting near The Mall in Columbia was sentenced Friday. 

Howard County Circuit Court Judge Stephanie Porter sentenced Emmetson Zeah, 19, to two concurrent life sentences, plus 70 years, in the killings of Michael Robertson, 16, and Blake McCray, 15. 

Before the sentence was handed down, Howard County State's Attorney Rich Gibson reiterated many of the same points he brought up during Zeah's bench trial. He honed in on the fact that Zeah deliberately moved toward the bus stop where Robertson and McCray were and fired a gun at several other people, including a mother and her child.

The surveillance video footage showing the shooting was replayed in court on Friday.

Gibson also took into consideration Zeah's criminal history, noting Zeah had numerous violent charges on his record in a span of two years.

"There were seven contacts, most of them in juvenile [court], all violent in nature. I would note that most people go their whole lives without committing a single significant crime of violence against anyone," he said.

Henry Roland Barnes, Zeah's defense attorney, tried to argue for the possibility of parole for his client, saying Zeah is still worthy of redemption.

However, Porter sided with Gibson, saying Zeah had "little regard for others" in his actions — not only in this incident, but in the others he's been charged with.

"He poses an extreme danger to our community," Porter said.

Barnes didn't agree with the sentence.

"The idea of, 'Will he change?' Well, he's demonstrating some level of promise, and I believe foreclosing that opportunity for parole...I don't think that's fair," he said.

The families of Robertson and McCray were satisfied with Zeah's sentence, but they said they know nothing will bring their loved ones back.

Robertson's mother, Wanda Vereen, was one of the five people who read victim impact statements at sentencing Friday.

"The defendant robbed me of witnessing my manchild go from teenage to adulthood," Vereen said. "Becoming a father to his own babies, pouring in the love that was poured into him."

Their focus now is remembering them for who they were.

"[Blake] was really thoughtful, kind, and caring. We never had any arguments. He never stayed out late, we never really had any disagreements. We were more like siblings at times," McCray's mother, Marshay Eaddy, said.

What happened at the mall

Robertson and McCray were shot dead at a bus stop outside the mall back in February, 2025. Zeah was arrested a short time later. Authorities linked him to the crime in part through his ankle monitor tracking data, along with witness interviews and video evidence. He was convicted of first-degree murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and more charges. 

Zeah took the stand during his three-day bench trial. He claimed he acted in self-defense, saying he had gone to the mall to look for a job and meet a friend. He claimed he was shot at while approaching the bus stop and fired back. 

Security camera footage from a nearby bus captured Zeah approaching a group at the bus stop and opening fire. 

"I would never intend to kill nobody," Zeah told the court at the time.   

"He had every opportunity to turn around."

Zeah was convicted in a bench trial, meaning there was no jury present, and Porter decided the case. 

"I don't believe for a minute he was looking for a job," she said when finding him guilty earlier this year. "He had every opportunity to turn around."

Zeah was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the shooting because he was out on bail related to a 2024 home invasion and attempted stabbing case.

Robertson and McCray's families went on to sue the monitoring company responsible for supervising Zeah at the time.

Their lawyer was present at sentencing on Friday. When asked if there was any update to the families' lawsuit, he said to expect one soon.