Six Years After a Columbia Apartment Shooting, a Family Seeks Answers
According to WACH, relatives of Kornell Willis continue to press for information regarding the legal proceedings against the woman accused of shooting and killing him inside a Columbia apartment six years ago. Willis would have turned 36 this month.
The Gable Oaks Apartments Shooting and the 2023 Incompetency Ruling
On July 14, 2020, Columbia police responded to the Gable Oaks Apartments following reports of gunshots and screaming from a neighbor. According to a police report, an officer discovered Leona Toatley’s children in a stairwell and was told that Toatley had shot Willis inside an apartment. Willis was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
In December 2023, court files revealed that Toatley—who shares children with Willis and was his former partner—was deemed unfit to participate in a trial. Those same records indicate that she was subsequently released from custody, leaving the case listed as inactive.
“My daughters were devastated, my wife was devastated,” said Laquanda Brunson, Willis’ sister-in-law.
Linda Willis, the victim’s mother, described the enduring weight of the tragedy. “I just broke down. That was my baby,” she said.
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Shayla Smith, who was Willis’ girlfriend at the time, recounted dropping him off that afternoon so he could pick up his children and introduce her to Toatley. Smith remained in the car while Willis went inside. “I could say he wasn’t inside no more than five to six minutes before we heard gunshots and heard kids scream,” Smith said.
Subsequent Arrests and Ongoing Community Safety Concerns
Frustration within the family has intensified due to the circumstances surrounding Toatley’s release and her subsequent freedom within the community. In August 2024, Columbia police stated that Toatley and her sister, Jamila, were accused of shooting at a man on Ripplemeyer Avenue. The target of that shooting was not injured, but the incident deeply alarmed those close to the 2020 homicide investigation.
“And had I got out the car, you basically would have had two bodies and just walking,” Smith said regarding the ripple effects of the ongoing fears. “As of right now, who’s to say that you’re not gonna finish what you started?”
Brunson echoed those sentiments regarding the visibility of Toatley’s daily life after her release from custody. “It’s really disheartening and it’s very frustrating because she is clearly capable of being out in the community, going to parties, participating in society,” Brunson said.
Inquiries and Unanswered Questions at the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office
WACH FOX News contacted the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office to inquire about the current status of the Willis case, whether another competency review is actively underway, and what legal steps might follow. The office stated that it could not comment on a pending case and directed the family to its victim’s advocate. Meanwhile, probate court officials stated they could not release details concerning Toatley’s mental health evaluation.
For the family, managing the bureaucratic aftermath has meant conducting their own investigations. “We have been the ones to follow up, and we’ve only been given little information,” Brunson said, adding that they have not heard from a victim’s advocate or received formal updates on the case.
WACH FOX News is still seeking confirmation of Toatley’s current legal status and any specific conditions governing her release.
