Trial date set for suspect in Waffle House shooting death

A Columbia man heads to trial in November for his alleged role in the shooting death of Anthony Warren on New Year’s Day at the Waffle House on Vandiver Drive.

Matthew McMillan will face a jury on Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. in Boone County court. His trial has already been delayed once.

McMillan was arrested a few days after the shooting and was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and assault.

Columbia police said a fight happened inside the Waffle House around 2 a.m. on New Year’s. According to court documents, McMillan and another man, identified as LHB, got into a verbal argument and McMillan pulled a gun.

The two men struggled for control of the gun. During the struggle, police said it went off and hit LHB in the leg, as well as some property within the Waffle House.

According to police, security guard Robert Moses responded to the fight, and tried to break it up. He shot Warren when he feared for his safety from an encroaching crowd of people in the store. Warren’s family doubts that explanation, saying Warren’s bullet wound was found in his side.

McMillan faces murder charges because prosecutors said he was committing a felony at the time of Warren’s death.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29.