Robbery victim sues three defendants for damages, property stolen
The victim of a July 2017 robbery in south Columbia sued three of the four people accused of attacking him.
The suit filed Tuesday targets Taffny Gordon, Ian Rich and Mackenzie Scott, three co-defendants in a robbery case. The lawsuit claims the three caused the victim mental anguish and emotional damages “in excess of $25,000,” in addition to taking items from his home.
Gordon, Rich and Scott, along with an accomplice who is not named in the lawsuit, are accused of breaking into Andrey Mischuk’s home in the 3900 block of Timber Run Drive early in the morning on July 2. Columbia police said that one of the four people dragged Mishchuk from his bed into the kitchen and held him at gunpoint while one of them raided his home.
The lawsuit claims the group “had the apparent ability to cause injury to (Mishchuk) by their use of firearms, physical force, their greater numbers, and by surprising (him) while he was asleep.”
Rich and Scott were arrested on July 14 during a traffic stop on Clark Lane, after police found guns that matched the description of those used in the robbery. Gordon was arrested a week later.
The lawsuit claims the fourth accomplice died on July 5 at the Welcome Inn motel after accidentally shooting himself while handling Mishchuk’s gun, which was stolen in the robbery. While the accomplice is never named, the circumstances of his death match those of Tanzell Johnson’s death. Police told ABC 17 News that Johnson’s death was ruled accidental, but have not provided more details.
Assistant Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson told ABC 17 News he would allege that Tanzell Johnson was the fourth suspect in the robbery.
Gordon pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery on April 19, according to online court records. Judge Kevin Crane sentenced her to 15 years in prison, the maximum penalty for that crime.
Rich and Scott still face first-degree robbery and armed criminal action charges, as well as felony drug possession charges from the time of their arrests.
The lawsuit lists 29 different items taken in the robbery, including a gun, camera, 56-inch television and at least two cellphones.
Mishchuk’s attorney, John Roodhouse, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Richard Hicks, who represents Rich in the criminal case, said he could not comment on the lawsuit since he does not represent Rich in that issue. He declined to comment on the pending criminal case.
Scott’s attorney, Kay Evans, did not return a call seeking comment on Wednesday.
