Jury trial begins for woman charged in fatal Holts Summit shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The jury trial for a woman charged in a Holts Summit murder case is set to begin Monday morning in the Boone County Courthouse.

Heather Smith, 38, is facing charges of second-degree murder, child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon after she is accused of shooting and killing 37-year-old Kara Dills. Smith claims the shooting was in self-defense.

On April 13, 2025, court documents say the shooting started with an argument between Smith and Dills at Hunter Lane Apartments.

Video surveillance showed Smith threatening witnesses with a pistol before the shooting. One witness allegedly tried to disarm her after she pointed the gun at several people, but was not successful. Documents say that her 8-year-old son was standing next to her during the altercation.

Dills allegedly got a gun and pistol-whipped Smith on the forehead, documents say. The gun went off, grazing a man on his head, according to the probable cause statement. After Dills lowered her gun and started to walk away, Smith shot her in the stomach, the statement says. She later died.

Smith's jury trial is set to begin at 8 a.m. in the Boone County Courthouse with Judge Hasbrouck Jacobs, after a venue change was granted.