Judge denies bond for suspect in deadly central Columbia shooting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Boone County judge denied a bond amendment Friday for the first man arrested in connection with a deadly Columbia shooting earlier this week.
Damarius Kavanaugh, 19, of Columbia, was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and tampering with physical evidence after William Riechers, 20, of Columbia, was found shot dead in the area of Allen and Bryant streets.
Kavanaugh appeared via video from the Boone County Jail. He was read his charges, and a future hearing to discuss his bond issue was set for 1 p.m. Tuesday.
A second suspect, Landen L. Jackson, 24, is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and unlawful use of a weapon. No court date has been set for Jackson. Court documents filed alongside Jackson's charges state police believe Jackson to be the person who fatally shot Riechers.
Riechers and Kavanaugh were walking to a nearby convenience store from Riechers' home on Lincoln Avenue when a light-colored SUV is seen pulling up to them on video footage as they approached the Bryant and Allen Street intersection, according to a probable cause statement.
Gunshots are heard seconds later, the statement says.
Kavanaugh allegedly “gave conflicting statements” about whether someone in the vehicle had shot first. He also told officers he didn't know if Reichers or someone in the SUV shot first, the statement says.
Kavanaugh allegedly told police that his gun jammed after firing, but that he was eventually able to get two more shots off before throwing it in a nearby wooded area. Officers later found the 9 mm gun in a bag with a clip.
Kavanaugh just completed a 120-day prison program for unlawful use of a weapon and felony motor vehicle tampering, along with misdemeanor resisting arrest, last month.
