Columbia homicide suspect pleads “not guilty”

A Columbia man indicted on murder charges for a June 26 double shooting pleaded not guilty in a Boone County courtroom Monday morning.

Denico Crawley, 30, is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend and 25-year-old Quenten Hurt while they were merging onto I-70 from the Business Loop.

Hurt died from his injuries about two weeks later. According to court documents, the grand jury determined there was enough evidence to prove Crawley intended to cause serious physical injury to Hurt and caused his death.

While the female victim was treated and released, ABC17 News confirmed Hurt was taken to Rusk Rehabilitation Center four days after the shooting. Hurt was supposed to be discharged from Rusk on July 28 but the Boone County Medical Examiner’s office told ABC17 News that Hurt was taken from Rusk to University Hospital a few days before he died July 13.

Court documents indicate prosecutors predicted days after Hurt died that there would be more charges coming down in the case. ABC17 News asked the Boone County Medical Examiner’s office for a cause of death but were directed to the Columbia Police Department. The Columbia police department said it is working on finding out if it can release that information.

Crawley is also charged with armed criminal action, domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.