Man charged in shooting outside Columbia gas station claims self-defense
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man charged in a shooting outside a Columbia gas station this week told police that he fired in self-defense, according to court documents.
Kentrail D. Taylor, 27, was charged Tuesday with three counts of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, four counts of armed criminal action, first-degree property damage and endangering the welfare of a child. His first court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Taylor was arrested after police were sent to a shots-fired call Monday morning at the Hy-Vee gas station on Trimble Road, in the Conley Road area of east Columbia.
According to a probable cause statement, when Taylor is seen on Hy-vee security camera footage walking out of the gas station back to his car, Royelle D. Hunt, 34, pulls up and gets out of a different car.
Hunt could be seen wearing a bulletproof vest and holding a silver handgun, police say. According to the probable cause statement, Hunt tucked the gun in his waistband and began to approach Taylor, clutching it.
Police identified Taylor after questioning a woman who ran into a nearby Aldi store after Taylor parked the car there, the statement says. Taylor ran toward the Columbia Country Club, police say.
The woman told police she picked up Taylor at Snead and Demaret drives to give him a ride. The confrontation happened when they went to the gas station, the statement says, and Taylor began shooting from her car.
Police later arrested Taylor at Woodlake Apartments. He admitted under interrogation to being at the station and said Hunt threatened to kill him, according to the statement.
Taylor said he told the woman driving to start circling the gas pumps and he began shooting in the direction of Hunt even though he couldn't see Hunt, the statement says. Taylor said he was in fear for his life.
Surveillance video tells a different story, according to the statement -- Hunt wasn't facing the car and didn't appear to be holding a gun.
Taylor was in the Boone County Jail on Wednesday with no bond.
Taylor has a criminal record. He was arrested in Indianapolis for carrying a handgun without a license, operating a motor vehicle without a license and possession of marijuana, according to court records.
He also has a long history of charges in Missouri dating back to 2013 including a disturbance arrest, unlawful use of a weapon, driving while revoked, misdemeanor possession and failure to appear arrests.
