Crime Archives

Police arrest suspect in robbery at Passions Adult Boutique

January 11, 2023 5:58 AM Kennedy Miller

The Columbia Police Department has arrested 27-year-old Jawan Avant in connection with the robbery at Passions Adult Boutique on Thursday.

Columbia Police investigate shots-heard call on Claudell Lane

January 10, 2023 7:00 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Editor’s Note: The title of the article previously stated ‘Columbia Police investigate shots-fired call’ which has been corrected to ‘Columbia Police investigate shots-heard call’. A Columbia Police Department spokesman said it was investigating multiple reports of shots heard in the 1000 of Claudell Lane on Tuesday afternoon. CPD said around three officers

Man charged after allegedly punching cop and trying to grab gun

January 9, 2023 9:04 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged after he allegedly punched a police officer last week and tried to take his gun. Charles Nichols, 24, was charged with attempting to disarm a peace officer while on duty, fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest. On Friday, Columbia police allegedly received a report of a suicidal person

1984 Columbia rape suspect asks for change of judge

January 9, 2023 6:45 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A North Carolina man accused of a 1984 rape in Columbia asked for a change of judge on Monday. James F. Wilson, 59, is charged with rape and first-degree assault. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.

More than 300 human trafficking victims reported in Missouri in 2021

January 9, 2023 11:21 AM Ethan Heinz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Hundreds of people have been forced or coerced into human trafficking over the past few years in Missouri, including nearly 330 of them confirmed in 2021. According to data collected from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 240 cases of human trafficking in 2021. Of those cases, 327 victims were involved.

Holts Summit man faces nine charges following Sunday standoff

January 9, 2023 2:36 PM Ryan Shiner

HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. (KMIZ) A Holts Summit man faces several charges after a stand off with law enforcement took place on Sunday. Maurice Burkhead, 60, is charged with fourth-degree domestic assault, third-degree kidnapping, third-degree domestic assault, two charges of unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree property damage, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of

Man charged with terroristic threat on MU’s campus

January 9, 2023 4:27 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was charged Monday with making a terroristic threat against the University of Missouri on a social media website in November. Chase Linhares, 21, was charged with making a terroristic threat. An initial court appearance is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Boone County Courthouse. The probable cause statement says

Second teen charged in October shooting near Indian Hills Park

January 9, 2023 3:24 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A second teenager has been charged in relation to a shooting that occurred Oct. 12 near Indian Hills Park in Columbia. Tyler Lopinto, 17, of Columbia, is charged with first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, armed-criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.

Man convicted of murdering Columbia Daily Tribune Sports Editor released on parole

January 9, 2023 7:38 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man convicted of killing a Columbia Daily Tribune Sports Editor in 2001 was released from prison on Monday at 8 a.m. according to Missouri’s Department of Corrections. Charles Erickson was originally sentenced to 25 years behind bars after confessing to the murder of Kent Heitholt and is set to be released

Hours-long standoff in Holts Summit ends

January 8, 2023 3:30 PM abc17news-Newsroom

HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. (KMIZ) Callaway County Sheriff said there is no longer a threat to the community after an hours-long standoff Sunday morning in Holts Summit. Sunday morning around 5:30, Holts Summit Police Department responded to a disturbance with a gun in the 200 block of Spalding Road. Police determined shots were fired and a

Charges updated for man accused in shooting death of Torrance Evans

January 6, 2023 9:09 PM ABC 17 News Team

FAYETTE, Mo. (KMIZ) Howard County prosecutors have reduced the charges of a Fayette murder suspect from August. Kundarrius Taylor is now charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter after he is accused of shooting Torrance Evans. Court documents say Taylor “recklessly caused the death of Torrance Evans Junior by shooting him.” The range of time served is

Columbia man charged with rape, kidnapping, assault

January 6, 2023 8:25 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man is charged with several felonies after he was accused of rape and other charges. Samuel Buckins Jr., 41, is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, two counts of second-degree domestic assault and first-degree property damage. He is being held in the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment hearing

Video shows man shoot into ceiling, thank employee during Columbia robbery

January 6, 2023 4:43 PM Chris Bryant

All it took was about 70 seconds for a person to walk into a store on Columbia’s Business Loop 70 and walk out with all the cash from the registers.

Marijuana expungement, release application for people incarcerated out now

January 6, 2023 6:40 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – People incarcerated for certain marijuana crimes can now apply to have their sentences thrown out. The Missouri State Public Defender’s Office released the application on its website. The one-page form allows for people in a jail, prison or halfway house to ask a court to order their release on drug charges

Break Time store robbed at gunpoint in Boonville

January 6, 2023 5:20 PM Matthew Sanders

A masked man with a handgun robbed a Boonville convenience store and might have had an accomplice, police say.

Hearing held for man accused of murdering baby; autopsy report still not available

January 6, 2023 5:21 PM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A hearing was held Friday at the Boone County Courthouse for a man accused of murdering his baby. Staffone Fountain, 30, of Independence, appeared by video from the Boone County Jail. He is charged with first-degree murder and abandoning a corpse. He is being held without bond in the Boone County Jail. Samone Daniels,

MoDOT, MSHP bring awareness to human trafficking

January 6, 2023 3:47 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Department of Transportation announced in separate press releases on Friday that they will participate in a trafficking awareness initiative next week. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, marking the anniversary of the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, MoDOT said. “Human trafficking remains a

Sunrise Beach man killed by police during domestic assault call

January 6, 2023 6:04 AM Zachary Farwell

A Lake of the Ozarks-area man was killed by police Thursday night in Laurie.

Columbia police find shell casings near Claudell Lane

January 5, 2023 7:23 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia police found shell casings on Thursday night in the 1000 block of Claudell Lane at Columbia Square Apartments. Police responded to a shots-fired call and a separate domestic disturbance call. An ABC 17 News reporter saw eight police vehicles, including a K-9 unit on the scene searching the area. Police have

Man accused of murdering sports editor to be released on parole Monday

January 5, 2023 8:39 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) One of the two men convicted for the murder of a Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor is set to be released on parole next week. Charles Erickson is scheduled for release from the Missouri Department of Corrections on Monday. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison after confessing to the murder of