Four days, two separate gun crimes on central Columbia street

Several Park Avenue residents said they’re worried about the recent gun violence on their street.

“There have been a couple of times when we have heard gunshots in the middle of the night,” said Mikella Marley, 19. “It’s a little nerve-wracking to be in bed and hear a loud pop outside. When you’re not used to it, it puts you on edge.”

Tuesday night, a 20-year-old woman was shot and taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A bullet also struck an apartment door in the 500 block. Officers collected shell casings, but would not release how many were found.

Gamal Dirar, a 10-year resident, said he heard at least 12 shots fired Tuesday night. He said there’s never been a lot of crime on the street and he’s most concerned about the children.

“The bullets don’t have eyes, they kill everybody,” he said. “You have to be very careful when you’re walking during the night or day.”

Columbia Police also responded to shots fired on Park Avenue near Fifth Street early Saturday morning. They found shell casings in the area. No one was injured and there was no reported property damage.

Marley and Nason Saltsgaver, 22, have lived in their house on Park Avenue for just two months. Both are students at MU and said they’re most likely not going to renew their lease next year.

“Not that we feel like anyone is going to intrude our house or anything, but just hearing straight shots outside – that’s a little intimidating,” Saltsgaver said. “It’s a nice location for campus to get to school, but other than that it’s just temporary.”

Community leaders are continuing in their Silence to Violence campaign this Friday at Douglass Park where they go around to neighborhoods experiencing crime to show their support. Rev. James Gray with the Second Missionary Baptist Church said it’s time to make a change.

“We want to make the city of Columbia safe,” he said. “I don’t know if this was an accident; I don’t know what it was, but just think if it was a little baby, or a senior citizen, or just this girl period. So we need to get with it.”

No arrests have been made in either incident and police say they cannot confirm if they are at all related. If you have any information, Columbia Police ask you to contact them or call CrimeStoppers at 875-TIPS to remain anonymous.