The Greene County community is mourning the death of 15-year-old Miles Young, who prosecutors say fell victim to a calculated ambush orchestrated by Yefry Archaga, an 18-year-old now held under a federal immigration detainer, Fox Newsreports. Investigators allege the March 12 attack was premeditated, luring the Missouri teen under false pretenses before he was killed.
According to court documents obtained by the Springfield Daily Citizen, Young believed he was meeting a girl that night. Instead, he was taken into a deadly setup involving multiple suspects. A juvenile accomplice allegedly convinced him to come along, even after he expressed concern that it might be a trap.
Once in Springfield, the group reportedly drove around discussing their plan, stopping to pick up a second vehicle. Prosecutors say they used two cars—including a black Mercedes—to track Young’s movements before cornering him at the ambush site. When one of the vehicles stopped, Young bolted from the car, attempting to escape.
Witness statements reveal that Archaga, dressed in a black ski mask and carrying what was described as a “Glock-style” handgun, chased Young on foot. The probable cause filing states that Archaga caught up and fired as Young pleaded for his life. “Defendant ambushed victim, chased victim on foot, and shot victim as victim was stating he wanted to live,” reads the report quoted by the Springfield Daily Citizen.
Another witness told investigators they heard Young fall and cry out, “I just don’t wanna die,” moments before gunshots rang out. He was struck in the chest and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Prosecutors say Archaga fled the scene but was captured on March 31 in Webb City after a two-week search. He is charged with first-degree murder and remains in the Greene County Jail without bond under a federal immigration hold. His preliminary court hearing is set for April 13.
A second defendant, 18-year-old Praize King, faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the killing. At least one other suspect, believed to be a juvenile, has yet to be publicly named.
Court documents suggest the motive may be linked to a prior conflict—Young was expected to testify in a 2025 homicide case. As prosecutors pursue justice, loved ones and neighbors continue to grieve a young life cut short in what authorities describe as a deliberate and merciless act.