Memorial service held for victim of northeast Columbia shooting

Family and friends attended a funeral and burial ceremony Wednesday morning for Cameron Scott Caruthers, the man who was shot and killed at a home off of Dawn Ridge Road on May 22.

Caruthers was a veteran of the United States Army and served in Iraq. He received a 21-gun salute during the burial service.

Mike Francis, a friend who served with Caruthers, said he wants justice for his best friend.

He also said he doesn’t want Caruthers to be known as a burglar or a home invader, because that’s not what happened.

Police said they originally responded to the residence on Dawn Ridge Road for reports of a home invasion with a gun.

The next day, police said it was not a home invasion, and the two men involved in the shooting knew each other and were in an argument before a gunshot was fired.

Neighbors, family and friends of Caruthers confirmed that Rick Gurley, a resident at the home, was the man who shot Caruthers.

Police said Gurley was detained for questioning after the shooting but was later released.

Francis said he’s gotten several phone calls about the shooting and about the type of man Gurley is.

He received a call from someone who said they have proof that Boone County deputies and Columbia police knew Gurley owned several guns even though he is a convicted felon.

Francis said he also got a call from someone who claimed Gurley has been stalking him for several years.

Francis said Caruthers’ ex-girlfriend told him she was there when the shooting happened, but when police arrived, only Gurley and Caruthers were at the home.

Francis said that he and the family know police are doing their job, and the process of the investigation is going slow. He said the family’s main focus right now is processing the death of a loved one and making sure his name doesn’t get dragged through the mud.

Police said they had no updates in the investigation as of Wednesday morning.

Francis said new information might be available soon, and if not, wants to get the federal government involved.