Teen arrested after shooting in Callaway County

A 16-year-old boy is in custody Sunday on suspicion of shooting a man near Holts Summit Saturday night.

Callaway County Sheriff’s deputies responded to calls of a disturbance and shots fired on Hickory Nut Lane at 7:44 p.m.

On scene, authorities found a 19-year-old male from Jefferson City with a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

“It’s our understanding there was some type of minor disturbance that lead to the shooter and some others coming to Callaway County to seek out an individual,” said Lt. Clay Chism with the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department. “I will offer that the individual that was shot is not the individual that was being sought out. However, there were several shots fired into a crowd of people. That victim was innocently in that crowd and suffered a gunshot wound.”

Witnesses tell ABC 17 a group of young males approached another group of young males outside a home on Hickory Nut Lane. A physical altercation broke out and neighbors came outside to break it up. They say the group with the shooting suspect took off and then multiple shots were fired.

The shooter and group of young males fled the scene before police arrived.

Deputies interviewed several witnesses and were able to identify a suspect.

“It was extremely beneficial to have cooperating witnesses,” Chism said. “Because of the number of witnesses, it was somewhat difficult at the beginning to get everyone identified and tracked down.”

Authorities found the 16 year old in Jefferson City Sunday afternoon and arrested him, according to Chism. The teen is charged with armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and first degree assault.

“It’s actually scary how many 16 year olds are running around on the streets with guns,” said Chism. “When you enter a firearm into any disturbance it certainly changes the scenario.”