Senior Center changes policy after parking lot shooting

A shooting has the Columbia Senior Activity Center making some changes to how it does business. Administrators called an emergency board meeting Monday morning to talk about how to move forward after the weekend shooting in the center’s parking lot.

The senior center on the Business Loop is back to its normal routine after weekend gun shots sent two to the hospital. The senior center rents out event space during off hours. During one of those events this Saturday around 3:00 a.m., a birthday party was coming to an end. Police officials said partiers left the building — only to hang out in the parking lot. Shortly after, a fight broke out when someone started shooting. Senior center administrators said that can’t happen again.

“We are going to close our building from now on to any rentals at midnight. There will be no loitering on the parking lot at all. As soon as the building is closed, they’re going to have to leave,” said Jan Palmer for the Columbia Senior Activity Center.

Administrators warn they will call the police if party goers don’t leave. They also say from now on, they’ll know exactly who is in the building.

“We will be renting only to people that we have confirmed are safe and that we’ve rented to before,” said Palmer.

Police have not yet release a suspect description. They encourage anyone with information on the shooting to call Crimestoppers at 875-TIPS.