Juvenile detained in Wednesday killing of corrections officer

A 16-year-old male was detained in connection to Wednesday’s homicide in Jefferson City. He’s in the custody of the Cole County Juvenile Authorities.

The Jefferson City Police Department identified Justin R. Kammerich, 33, of Jefferson City as the victim of Wednesday night’s homicide.

Officers said they were called to the 800 block of Broadway near West Ashley Street around 11 p.m. on Wednesday for reported shots fired.

Police said they arrived at the scene and found two men suffering gunshot wounds near the apartments on W. Atchison Street.

They were taken to the hospital, and Kammerich was pronounced dead because of the wounds. The second victim, a 20-year-old man, was taken to University Hospital with critical injuries. His name has not been released. He was still in critical condition on Friday, according to police.

Kammerich was a corrections officer for the Missouri Department of Corrections, according to state records.

“Justin Kammerich was a Corrections Officer I at Jefferson City Correctional Center. He joined the department July 25, 2016,” Department of Corrections Communications Director Karen Pojmann said in an email. “Our hearts go out to his family.”

Pojmann neither confirmed nor denied whether the 20-year-old victim was also a DOC employee.

Police previously said the shooter fled on foot. The investigation is ongoing.

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