Shooting in Northeast Columbia
*** UPDATE 11:18 P.M. ***
Two people are now behind bars in connection to a north Columbia shooting. Police said an argument between two sets of neighbors escalated on Quail Drive and shots were fired.
Police caught up with the suspect after a chase on Highway 63, went back to Quail Drive and found his gun as well as enough evidence to arrest another woman.
Neighbors told ABC 17 News this was all over a fight that has been brewing for a while. One woman in the middle of all of it wanted her identity to stay anonymous for safety but said, “He walked up on my next door neighbors lawn and shot at my husband, who does that?”
Police said for the past few weeks these two families have been arguing. “Two weeks ago it was something over a barbecue grill,” said Sgt. John Dye.
On Thursday, the constant fighting finally went too far when an early-afternoon argument sparked up again around 5:30 p.m. “One of the individuals went back into his house, retrieved a pistol, fired two rounds towards another house didn’t not strike anybody,” said Dye.
After the shooting, the man went back inside then started running from his apartment. ABC 17 News was on scene near Highway 63 moments later as he was taken into custody.
“Then a little more investigation we were able to locate the pistol used… it was in another building inside a washing machine inside a coat,” said Dye.
Next police arrested the man’s roommate, but wouldn’t specify the reason for the arrest.
Police did find shell casings on Quail Drive. This case is the third shooting ABC 17 News has covered on the street in the last six months.
*** ORIGINAL STORY ***
Columbia police responded to reports of shots fired on Quail Drive just before 6 p.m. Thursday.
According to officers on the scene, the incident stemmed from an argument between two groups of people. The suspect reportedly fired a gun into the air, and fled the area.
Police caught up with the suspect near the I-70/Highway 63 connector, and are searching for the weapon.
