Parolee charged in weekend Columbia shots fired incident

Boone County prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a parolee for this weekend’s shooting near the Business Loop in Columbia.

Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Jessica Caldera charged 28-year-old Steven Lee Shelton with unlawful use of a weapon for shooting from a motor vehicle. Shelton is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Shelton is expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Boone County Circuit Court, via video.

Columbia Police said the incident was reported about 1:45 a.m. Saturday near Rangeline and the Business Loop. Police said they were flagged down by witnesses while they were en route, and were given a suspect vehicle description.

Police say they located Shelton’s vehicle near Club Vogue. Investigators said they found a firearm under the driver’s seat in Shelton’s vehicle. Columbia Police also said they found shell casings near Rangeline and the Business Loop that matched cartridges in the firearm found under Shelton’s seat.

Shelton is a convicted felon and is currently on parole for a second degree robbery conviction. Shelton has served time in prison. Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman David Owen tells ABC 17 News Shelton was paroled from prison on Sept. 30, 2011.

There were no reports of injuries or property damage in the weekend incident.

Columbia Police are thanking witnesses in the area for their cooperation with police, adding that their cooperation quickly led to Shelton’s arrest.