Crime Archives

Columbia assistant coach accused of distributing child pornography

July 23, 2021 10:07 AM Molly Stawinoga

Online records show Benjamin Melvin, 25, was being held Friday in the Boone County Jail without bond.

Columbia man arrested for November shooting

July 23, 2021 10:01 AM Molly Stawinoga

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia police arrested a man in connection with a shots fired incident in November 2020. Prosecutors filed charges against Aaron Jones, 20, on July 14, more than seven months after police say they identified Jones as the suspect in the case. According to court documents obtained by ABC 17 News, police responded

Jefferson City man gets probation in 2019 shooting

July 22, 2021 11:41 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man pleads guilty to several charges after a December 2019 shooting and gets five years probation. Jerome E. Malone entered a guilty plea for unlawful possession of a firearm, stealing a gun, resisting arrest and unlawful use of a weapon. Witnesses told police in 2019 that Malone and

Cole County man pleads guilty in arson case

July 22, 2021 11:15 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Russellville man has entered a guilty plea in a 2019 arson case after he set two fires at a trailer he co-owns. Dylan Moore received two years probation after pleading guilty to attempting-knowingly burning or exploding, second-degree property damage and second-degree harassment. Firefighters responded to the fires at a home

Man arrested after shooting at Jefferson City gas station

July 22, 2021 5:26 AM Zola Crowder

Officers on Thursday afternoon arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the shooting, according to a Jefferson City Police Department news release. He was already awaiting trial for first-degree robbery from a 2019 incident, police said.

Jerry Fitzwater in the Randolph County Courthouse.

Judge denies bond in deadly Moberly shooting

July 21, 2021 3:54 PM Zach Boetto

Judge Mason Robert Gebhardt on Wednesday set a Sept. 10 preliminary hearing date for Jerry Fitzwater of Moberly. Fitzwater, 79, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the shooting death of Mitchell Nickerson.

Fulton man faces multiple charges after allegedly hitting caseworker and officer with vehicle

July 21, 2021 7:37 PM Karl Wehmhoener

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Fulton police arrested a man Wednesday they say hit a caseworker and officer with a vehicle. Officers report Charles McMasters entered the caseworker’s vehicle drove the vehicle, hitting the caseworker and an officer on the scene. Both were knocked to the ground and suffered moderate injuries. Officials say McMasters drove away in

Kaiser building fire may be connected to Thursday night shooting at Lake of the Ozarks

July 21, 2021 5:20 PM Hannah Falcon

Osage Beach Fire Protection District responded to a building fire off Highway 42 at 11:30 Tuesday night. Crews were at a metal building with Midwest Drifters Motorcycle Club signs until 5 a.m. The Midwest Drifters were at the shooting Thursday night at the Bagnell Dam Bouvard strip, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Fulton man arrested for child porn possession

July 21, 2021 3:37 PM Karl Wehmhoener

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A Fulton man was arrested on a Callaway County warrant for possession of child pornography after an investigation began in January. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force received a CyberTip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a person in the Fulton area who

Jefferson City police arrest man accused of exposing self to child in city park

July 21, 2021 10:24 AM Matthew Sanders

Officers were called at about 11 a.m. Tuesday to Ellis Porter Riverside Park on a report of a man who had exposed himself to a child in the women’s bathroom, according to a Jefferson City Police Department news release. The caller told police the man left the park in a black SUV.

Columbia man faces two more invasion of privacy charges

July 21, 2021 11:55 AM Lucas Geisler

Boone County prosecutors charged Ronald Dameron on July 12 and July 16 with attempted invasion of privacy. Police in both cases said women accused Dameron of following them around stores in Columbia and possibly trying to take pictures up their skirts.

Bike Night canceled in Lake Ozark after deadly shooting

July 20, 2021 3:05 PM Matthew Sanders

Police Chief Gary Launderville announced the cancelation in a meeting with business owners, according to a city news release. Bike Night is a business promotion targeting motorcycle enthusiasts that takes place on the third Thursday of every month. The deadly shooting took place on Bike Night.

Missouri treasurer sues secretary of state over amendment

July 20, 2021 3:10 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri treasurer is suing the Missouri secretary of state over a proposed constitutional amendment. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick on Monday sued fellow Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. Fitzpatrick is suing over a proposed constitutional amendment that would change how his office invests taxpayer money.

Full federal appeals court to consider Missouri abortion law

July 20, 2021 3:07 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A full federal appeals court panel is rehearing a case over Missouri abortion restrictions. The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals last week decided to take up the case on its own motion. At issue is a 2019 state law to ban abortions as soon as eight weeks into pregnancy and

Warsaw man charged with second-degree murder after Sunday morning shooting

July 19, 2021 7:10 PM ABC 17 News Team

WARSAW, Mo. (KMIZ) A Warsaw man has been charged with second-degree murder after a shooting in Benton County. Deputies say they got a call reporting a man was shot just before five Sunday morning. Officials say a driver and the victim went swimming with other people. The suspect was allegedly getting into an argument with

MU researchers make recommendations to combat traffic stop disparities in Columbia

July 19, 2021 2:54 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Researchers at the University of Missouri released a final report on traffic stop disparities in the Columbia Police Department, confirming initial data that showed black drivers are more likely to get pulled over. The study was conducted by researchers from MU’s Department of Sociology, Truman School of Public Affairs, School of Social

Documents: Lake of the Ozarks shooting part of confrontation involving three motorcycle clubs

July 19, 2021 3:26 PM Matthew Sanders

Miller County prosecutor Ben Winfrey on Friday charged Daniel S. Kurtzeborn of Iberia with a single count of illegal gun possession in connection with the deadly shooting last week outside Casablanca Pub and Grill on the Bagnell Dam Strip. Bond was set at $25,000.

Man arrested after deadly shooting in Benton County

July 19, 2021 2:21 AM Molly Stawinoga

A 28-year-old died Sunday after a shooting in Benton County.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you concerned about crime at the Lake of the Ozarks?

July 19, 2021 1:16 AM ABC 17 News Team

Two people have died in shootings this summer at the Lake of the Ozarks.

One person arrested after shooting during a domestic disturbance

July 16, 2021 10:30 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia police arrested one person after shots were fired inside of a residence in the 4600 block of Oakview Dr during a domestic disturbance at 5:41 p.m. Mug Shot: John P. O’Connor Police located and arrested John P. O’Connor, 37, near the residence with a firearm in his possession. officers located property