A man charged in a large gun theft at a Columbia pawn shop has a history of burglarizing businesses in Jefferson City. Alexander Mears was involved in burglaries at Las Palmas Taqueria on Ellis Boulevard and China Wok just down the road June 27, according to court documents. He allegedly had help from Dakota Blackburn
Continue Reading
Nationwide, the number of homicides is going down but that is not the case for Columbia, according to data kept by law enforcement agencies. FBI crime data show 14,123 people died across the country in homicides — a decrease of 1,072 homicides from 2017 to 2018, or 7.5%. The number of homicides involving firearms nationwide
Continue Reading
Boone County prosecutors have charged two teens after shots were fired in the 5300 block of Silver Mill Drive on Sunday. Several officers searched the area around Silver Mill and N. Burning Bush Drive shortly before 9 p.m. A CPD officer told ABC 17 News crews that gunshots were fired but did not say if
Continue Reading
Police are seeking two men after an armed robbery at McDonald’s on Stadium Boulevard. Columbia police told ABC 17 News crews at the scene that two men struck an employee with a gun at the fast food store. Authorities were called to the scene shortly after 3 a.m. Monday. A Columbia Police Department news release
Continue Reading
A shooting Sunday night continues the rash of violence in Columbia. Columbia police confirmed with ABC 17 News that shots were fired shortly before 9 p.m. near the intersection of Silver Mill and N. Burning Bush Drive. Authorities searched the area and talked to people nearby for more than an hour after the incident. One
Continue Reading
A man accused of second-degree murder in the killing of Nadria Wright was transported and booked into the Boone County Jail on Sunday morning. St. Louis County police took Javion Lawhorn-Wallace, 30, into custody on Thursday night in connection with the Sept. 13 killing of Wright, 18. Lawhorn-Wallace was then booked into the Boone County
Continue Reading
The Columbia Police Department arrested one person Sunday with charges of assault, according to a press release. Officers arrested Dengcheng “David” Chen on charges of assault and armed criminal action. Police were dispatched to House of Chow at 9:15 p.m. Saturday for a disturbance with a knife. According to the release, officers found two victims.
Continue Reading
Roots N Blues N BBQ wrapped up Sunday night, meaning many people left the festival and Columbia. Thousands of people attend the festival each year at Stephens Lake Park. Festival organizers have taken steps to spread out traffic and keep people safe. Free shuttles are available from downtown parking garages to the festival. Adam Vogt
Continue Reading
Community members gathered Saturday afternoon to remember the victims of the recent string of gun violence in Columbia. This comes after 6 people have been killed in five shootings in just over two weeks. Restoration of Life Ministries held a memorial and barbecue to remember the lives lost. One of the organizers, Wilma Blair, said
Continue Reading
A co-owner of the Roots N Blues festival said Friday that the event this year will have more security than in years past. This is Tracy Lane’s first year as co-owner of The Roots and Blues Festival in Columbia. She said she has been in events for 30 years, and said the festival has robust
Continue ReadingThe man accused of firing a gun after getting into a fight outside a Columbia church where a funeral was taking place pleaded guilty earlier this month, According to court records, John Cosey Jr. pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree assault, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail. Court documents
Continue Reading
The University of Missouri Police Department released its 2019 Annual Fire Safety and Security Report on Friday, revealing a drop in violent crime and liquor law referrals in 2018. The 119-page report is tabulates incidents on the MU campus, certain off-campus buildings owned by MU and on public property directly adjacent to campus. Rapes declined
Continue ReadingJavion Lawhorn-Wallace has been accused in a drive-by shooting before. In 2010 he pleaded guilty to being the trigger man in a north Columbia drive-by. Now Lawhorn-Wallace is accused again of pulling the trigger in a drive-by shooting, this time with fatal consequences. Boone County prosecutors have charged Lawhorn-Wallace with second-degree murder, two counts of
Continue Reading
UPDATE 10:36 p.m.: Columbia police confirmed they are investigating a homicide on McBaine Avenue at Duncan Street. According to a news release, officers responded to the scene at 8:13 p.m. Wednesday and found a man with gunshot wounds. The man was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police identified the victim
Continue Reading
Police have arrest warrants out for two men suspected in a recent string of shooting deaths, Columbia Police Department Chief Geoff Jones said Wednesday. Jones and Mayor Brian Treece spoke at a news conference about shootings that have claimed four lives since Sept. 13. Jones ticked off a list of those killed in homicides in
Continue Reading
Two people were charged with murder in connection with recent gun deaths in Columbia, according to court documents that became available on Thursday. Aaron Harris, 26, of Columbia was charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the Sept. 14 death of E’quan Spain, 19, near Park Avenue and Fifth
Continue Reading
Two men are now charged in connection with an alleged assault at a fraternity on the University of Missouri’s campus. Court documents said Joseph Huber and another man attacked a man in the parking lot of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house Sept. 14. The victim told police he left the area and did not
Continue Reading
The gun violence gripping Columbia has hit close to home for a former University of Missouri basketball star with deep Columbia roots. Willie Smith said Thursday that James Hickem, a 23-year-old killed by gunfire Wednesday night, is his grandson. Smith first spoke with ABC 17 News on Wednesday afternoon about the violence that has now
Continue Reading
The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau said it has not seen an immediate drop in tourism following recent shootings. The bureau has been measuring visitor’s perception of safety for the past four years. It is an annual measure. “Columbia, we’ve always branded our self as a community that is open, and welcoming and safe and
Continue Reading
Wednesday’s killing of James Hickem tied a grim milestone for the city of Columbia. The death marked the ninth homicide in Columbia in which law enforcement believed a crime occurred. That ties the number of killings set in 2017, the highest such mark in the last 20 years. Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones said Wednesday
Continue Reading