Three charged in connection with shooting in northeast Columbia, one in custody

UPDATE 8:44 P.M.: Damon Thompson is now in custody. Buckner and Townsend still have active warrants.

ORIGINAL STORY: Three people are now charged in connection to a shooting in northeast Columbia that left a car with a bullet hole and put a baby in danger.

Kevin Buckner, Malik Townsend and Damon Thompson were all charged Thursday for the March 26 shooting. Police say a bullet struck the rear of a vehicle and went through the back of the driver’s seat. Officers also found several shell casings at the intersection of Irma and Shamrock Dr.

According to court documents, the victim told police that a black Ford Focus followed him when he left a convenience store at Ballenger Lane and Rice Road with his baby in his car.

The victim said he was driving east on Rice Rd. when he saw a rifle come out of the passenger side window of the black Ford Focus. The victim said he then turned left and went north on Shamrock before turning right, east on Irma Drive. He said the Ford Focus stopped when he turned on to Irma Drive and that’s when he heard gunshots.

The victim said he then stopped the car in the street to grab the baby and protect him from the gunfire.

Police said the victim identified the driver and passenger of the Ford Focus as Buckner and Townsend, respectively. He told police that prior to the shooting, one of the men posted a Facebook Live video that showed Buckner driving, Townsend in the passenger seat and Thompson in the back seat.

Police said surveillance video from both the convenience store and a residence on Callaway Drive confirmed the victim was being targeted and followed. The victim also told police that Buckner had recently confronted him.

According to court documents, the victim’s mother said she knew the family of Damon Thompson. She told police that she spoke with Thompson’s mother, who is identified as K.M. Court documents say K.M. told the victim’s mother that Damon “did not know there was a baby in the car and that he was sorry.”

Bucker, Townsend and Thompson are all charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and felony unlawful use of weapons. They are currently not in custody and warrants have been ordered for all three suspects.