Man accused of murder 2022 J. Pfenny’s shooting gets new judge

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man accused of shooting and killing two people in 2022 at a Jefferson City bar will see a new judge in his murder case.

Damien Davis, 39, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of illegal gun possession in the shooting death of 26-year-old Skylar Smock and 43-year-old Corey Thames on Nov. 26, 2022, at J. Pfenny's Sports Grill and Pub.

Judge Brian Stumpe recused himself on Thursday, citing a “court restructuring of case load,” court filings show. Judge Christopher Limbaugh was assigned to the case.

According to previous reporting, Smock tried to break up a fight and remove Thames from the business when Davis started firing shots, according to investigators.

Police say Davis admitted to firing shots at Thames but says he unintentionally shot Smock. Previous reporting indicates that Davis had said “I was saving my life" during his arraignment in November 2022.

Court documents claim Davis' statement to police that night did not match the evidence at the scene, including the location of shell casings or the video evidence captured by the bar's cameras.

Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in 2023.

Davis is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, June 22.