Three men arrested for weekend murder in Jefferson City
Three people are in custody for a Sunday murder in Jefferson City.
Cole County Prosecutor Mark Richardson charged Charles Thompson, 17, Vincent Smith, 25, and Robert Burks, 23, with second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Burks and Smith are also facing additional counts of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.
Court documents claim Thompson and Smith broke into 52-year-old Johnny Evans’ apartment Sunday afternoon the 1100 block of East High Street.
Smith told police while they took things from the living room, Evans began to get up from the couch. That is when Smith said he heard a bang and saw Thompson holding a gun.
After another shot, Smith ran from the apartment. Investigators say a third person, Burks, was the driver. Thompson was later arrested near St. Louis and brought back to Mid-Missouri.
Initial reports from the police say Evans made it to his neighbor’s apartment, who then called 911. Evans died at the hospital.
(Editor’s note, 2/18, 4:28 p.m.: The story clarifies the prosecutor’s charge for Charles Thompson. Jefferson City police arrested him for first-degree murder, however, the prosecutor has charged him with second-degree murder.)
