Police arrest man in connection with September shooting on Raleigh Drive

UPDATE 10/19: Columbia police have arrested a man in connection to a September shooting in north Columbia.

Police say they arrested Mariquan Midgyett in connection to the shooting in the 1500 block of Raleigh Drive.

Officers say when they arrived on scene they found three separate residences struck by gunfire.

Detectives say on Saturday an investigation revealed Midgyett had a handgun and in the area on the day of the shooting.

According to court documents, a witness at the time of the shooting saw Midgyett there, but only knew him by his first name. Police found shell casings in the area Midgyett allegedly was.

Saturday, police spoke with the witness’s mom who supplied officers with the last name – Midgyett.

The witness said she asked Midgyett why he had a gun and he told her he had it because he was “afraid.”

Detectives apparently then applied for a warrant for Midgyett’s arrest on suspicion of unlawful use of weapons.

Around 5:00pm yesterday police say Vice Narcotics and Organized Crime Detectives and Street Crimes Detectives were in the 3900 block of White Tiger Lane trying to find Midgyett.

VNOC detectives apparently saw Midgyett standing in a parking lot on White Tiger Lane. police say as Street Crimes Detectives pulled up in a marked car, Midgyett took off running with something in his hand.

VNOC detectives say they saw Midgyett jump a fence into a backyard of residence in the 800 block of Quick Sand Circle. VNOC detectives then apparently saw a handgun in Midgyett’s left hand when he went to jump the fence.

Police say Midgyett was taken into custody in the backyard of a residence in the 800 block of Quick Sand Circle without any further incident.

Midgyett, age 18 from Columbia, was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of weapons, warrant for failure to appear for theft, and armed criminal action.

ORIGINAL: One man is in the Boone County Jail after being arrested for alleged armed criminal action.

Public arrest records show Mariquan Midgyett was arrested early Wednesday morning on suspicion of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

He is being held on at least $9,000 bond.

ABC17 looked into Midgyette’s criminal history and found he was previously charged with theft/stealing and resisting arrest last year.

ABC17 is contacting police for further information on what led up to Midgyette’s arrest.