Man pleads guilty to tampering with evidence in Waffle House shooting on New Year’s Day

Editor’s Note: We mistakenly reported that Freelon was sentenced to five months in prison but had his sentence suspended. We’ve changed the story for accuracy. Freelon was in jail for five months and served his time. He did not go to prison.

Jaylon Freelon. a 20-year-old man from Columbia, has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tampering with physical evidence in connection to the New Year shooting at Waffle House that left one dead.

Columbia Police officers responded to the Waffle House located at 904 Vandiver Drive at 1:49 a.m. New Year’s Day after receiving reports of a disturbance. As officers were arriving, Boone County Joint Communication officials advised officers that victims with gunshot wounds had arrived at a local hospital by personal vehicles, according to police.

Police said through the investigation, detectives found that Freelon removed a gun from the scene before officers arrived. They said the gun was displayed during an altercation that happened at the Waffle House. Police requested a warrant for Freelon to be taken into custody.

Freelon was sentenced to five months in jail and served that time.