One person taken to the hospital after shooting in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
One person was taken to the hospital after a shooting on E Poplar Hill Drive in Columbia Saturday afternoon. Columbia Police Department officers confirmed on scene that there were multiple reports of gunshots just after 2 p.m.
One couple in the area, Tom Detore and Eileen Kossak told ABC 17 News they are good friends with the victim and that his name is Brandon.
They said they have lived next door to each other over five years. The couple also told ABC 17 News that the wife of the victim is named Elane and she explained to Kossak how the shooting happened.
Detore and Kossak said Brandon and Elane were in their backyard hitting golf balls when their dog ran to the front of the house. A man who is assumed to live across the dirt road then began firing shots at Brandon.
"He went out to see why the dog was going and barking. He said come on and he grabbed the dog and started walking back and the guy just started shooting. He shoot him in the back. I mean they didn't even have a confrontation," said Kossak.
ABC 17 News saw at least 14 evidence markers at the scene and the Columbia Crime Scene Investigators taking photos. Kossak said she was worried about Brandon and that his wife said he was shot in the back.
"When I walked into the bedroom and looked out the window I could see his hands were up and at first I wondered if they were arresting him and I saw them taping him. They were actually taping his chest. She told me he had been shot in the back," said Kossak.
Another area resident Kathy Brenton said residents don't hear much about crime in the area. "I didn't even hear this. My husband and I were in the house and I didn't even know there was anything going on until we went to let our dogs out and saw the tape and police cars," said Brenton
Kossak said Brandon and Elane have been great neighbors to everyone and there wasn't any tension between them and the neighbor across the dirt road. Kossak said Elane was shocked by what happened.
"She said I just can't believe he did that. It was so out of the blue," said Elane.
Police say the victim is stable. Officers also said that one armed man was taken into custody.
If you have any information related to this incident, you're encouraged to call the Columbia Police Department or Crime Stoppers 573-875-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.
