Crime Archives

Third murder suspect takes plea deal in Columbia shooting

November 22, 2024 10:09 AM Matthew Sanders

A third man suspected of murder in a deadly June 2023 shooting pleaded guilty Friday.

Columbia man arrested after high-speed chase previously served prison time for manslaughter

November 21, 2024 7:46 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man allegedly involved in a Boone County shooting was arrested Wednesday evening following a high-speed chase. Javion Lawhorn, 35, was charged on Thursday with aggravated fleeing. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set. According to court documents, Lawhorn was

Prosecutor says potential victims of Planet Fitness peeping should contact authorities

November 21, 2024 4:01 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Anyone who is worried their privacy might have been violated in the tanning area of a Columbia Planet Fitness should contact authorities, Boone County’s top prosecutor said Thursday. Kenneth G. Steele, a former trainer at the gym, was charged Wednesday with invasion of privacy and third-degree domestic assault. He was not listed

Versailles man faces child porn charges

November 21, 2024 3:29 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Versailles man was charged with several counts of having child pornography on Wednesday. Corey Laughlin, 27, was charged with three counts of having more than 20 files of child pornography and an additional count of child porn possession. He is being held at the Morgan County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Police arrest Columbia man on suspicion of shooting gun near McKee Street Park

November 21, 2024 2:21 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police arrested an 18-year-old Columbia man on suspicion of firing shots in the area of McKee Street Park. Alex Keitt, 18, was arrested Wednesday after police served warrants in the 1900 block of North Waterfront Drive and the 1400 block of Grindstone Plaza Drive, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

Columbia mayor signs letter asking Kehoe to ban youth from having handguns

November 20, 2024 9:29 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was one of four Missouri mayors to sign a letter that asks Missouri’s next governor to prevent children from possessing handguns. Buffaloe, Springfield Mayor Ken MClure, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed a letter dated Nov. 15 that was addressed to Governor-elect

Trainer at Columbia Planet Fitness accused of filming women undress in tanning booths

November 20, 2024 5:01 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with a pair of felonies after authorities claim he filmed multiple women while they were undressing at a Planet Fitness. Kenneth Gerard Steele was charged with invasion of privacy and third-degree domestic assault. A motion to set bond was filed on Wednesday and he was not listed

Man convicted of killing Laken Riley sentenced to life in prison without parole

November 20, 2024 10:06 AM Associated Press

Associated Press ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Venezuelan man convicted of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a case that became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration. Jose Ibarra was charged with murder and other crimes in Riley’s February death,

North Columbia intersection blocked off after police find evidence of shots being fired

November 19, 2024 6:02 PM Ryan Shiner, Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police closed off an intersection in north Columbia on Tuesday afternoon after police found evidence of shots being fired. An ABC 17 News reporter saw four evidence markers down at the intersection of Rice Road and McKee Street. Police observed property damage and found shell casings. Crime scene tape was placed in

Records allege misconduct by Maries County Sheriff; Heitman calls claims ‘lies’

November 19, 2024 9:44 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Maries County judge ordered the release of criminal investigation records that allege Sheriff Chris Heitman intimidated witnesses, falsified written statements and misappropriated funds for personal use. Heitman maintains that he has done nothing wrong and claims the allegations are a result of “lies and corruption.” On Monday, Judge Brenden Fox issued

WATCH: Fulton police release surveillance video in homicide investigation

November 19, 2024 9:27 PM Matthew Sanders

EDITOR’S NOTE: The video has been cropped to protect sensitive evidence at the request of police. FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Fulton police have released surveillance video of a person of interest in an October homicide investigation. Police provided ABC 17 News this week with the video from the scene of a deadly shooting on Mokane Road.

Columbia man sentenced to three years in prison for 2023 shooting

November 19, 2024 6:49 PM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was sentenced to three years and 20 days for shooting a man in 2023 at a mobile home off Business Loop 70 in Columbia. Sean Colton, 23, was found guilty by a Boone County Jury back in October for second-degree assault and armed criminal action. Boone County Judge Kevin

Two charged with murder in Audrain County overdose death, arrest made

November 19, 2024 5:24 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people have been charged with murder in the July overdose death of a 62-year-old Mexico, Missouri woman. Shelbi R. Hamilton and Timothy R. Hoffman, both of Mexico, were charged Tuesday. Hamilton is charged with second-degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance. Hoffman is charged with second-degree murder, delivery of a

Man accused of calling in threat to Eldon High School after student said they didn’t want to be in class

November 19, 2024 3:15 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A California, Missouri, man was charged with first-degree making a terrorist threat after he allegedly called in a gun threat to Eldon High School upon the request of a student. A warrant was issued on Tuesday for Ernest Blair Jr. and a $25,000 bond was set. He was not listed on the

New technology purchase could help Columbia police speed up gun-identification process

November 18, 2024 6:53 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department is hopeful the purchase of gun identification technology will help police be more effective in solving violent crimes in the city. CPD is requesting $208,934 in seized money to buy gun identification technology. The request was presented during Monday night’s City Council meeting. According to Assistant Chief Lance

Columbia man pleads guilty to reduced murder charge

November 18, 2024 1:59 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 21 years in state prison Monday after he pleaded guilty to a reduced murder charge for a June 2023 shooting. Alqueze M. Jones of Columbia pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in a Boone County courtroom, Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Roger Johnson said. He had been

Two charged with Columbia assault after man hits head on concrete

November 18, 2024 10:52 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was treated for a life-threatening brain bleed and two people were charged with first-degree assault after an altercation Friday in northwest Columbia. Police arrested Felicia L. Hay, 33, and Alexander A. Aklan, 28, both of Columbia, after the incident on Primrose Drive. Hay is charged with first-degree assault and Aklan

One arrested for DWI following crash involving police vehicle in north Columbia

November 16, 2024 3:08 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was arrested after allegedly hitting a Columbia Police Department vehicle Friday night. According to a release from CPD, police responded to a crash involving an on-duty police vehicle and another vehicle in the 2300 block of Oakland Gravel Road around 11:30 p.m. Gabriel Antonio Garcia-Vasquez, 44, of Columbia was arrested

Two arrested in connection with Northwest Columbia assault

November 16, 2024 10:16 AM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department arrested a man and a woman allegedly in connection with a Friday afternoon assault that happened in Northwest Columbia, according to a release from the department. At around 2:30 p.m. Friday, Columbia Police responded to an assault in the 2800 block of Primrose Dr. When officers arrived they

Columbia man charged with three counts of statutory sodomy

November 15, 2024 6:52 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with several child sex crimes on Friday. Tarl Williams, 38, was charged with two counts of statutory sodomy of a child younger than 12 years old and one count of statutory sodomy of a child younger than 14 years old. He is being held without bond at