Man charged with first-degree assault in deadly Lake of the Ozarks shooting involving motorcycle clubs
LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Hickory County man has been charged with two felonies in connection with a deadly Thursday night shooting during an altercation between motorcycle clubs on the Bagnell Dam Strip at Lake of the Ozarks.
The Miller County prosecutor charged Tonka Way-Con Ponder on Friday with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting that killed one person and injured four outside Casablanca Pub and Grill.
A probable cause statement filed in Ponder's case says investigators found surveillance video showing a shooting victim identified as B.C. was in a fight outside the bar when he pulled a gun on Ponder, who was fighting another person. Ponder drew his gun and shot B.C., who died at the scene, the statement says.
More gunshots rang out and Ponder and another person identified only as D.K. were shot and fell to the ground, according to the statement. Video then shows Ponder reloading as he lies wounded on the front desk of the bar, then firing at a man walking by with his hands up identified as T.C.
The City of Lake Ozark said earlier Friday afternoon in a statement that the names of the one person killed and the four others injured in the shooting during Bike Night at the strip are being held pending further information. The Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control is leading the investigation at the request of Lake Ozark police, the statement said.
The city said the shooting involved motorcycle clubs. It is believed to be the first deadly shooting on the strip in Lake Ozark, the city said.
The four injured people were taken to Lake Regional Hospital, the statement said.
Casablanca Pub and Grill sought to reassure the public Friday.
"We want to assure you that this isolated incident is being investigated by local law enforcement and we appreciate your cooperation in providing any information regarding the incident," Casablanca Pub and Grill posted on its Facebook page Friday about the shooting during the lake's Bike Night.
The bar reopened at 11 a.m. and has live entertainment scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to the post.
City of Lake Ozark officials said they believe the shooting to be gang-related and the public should not be concerned about their safety.
City officials said people reported the shooting around 8 p.m. Several suspects were detained at the scene near Casablanca.
St. Louis County Police Sgt. Tracy Panus said some of the department's officers were having dinner across the street when the shooting happened and helped treat at least one of the victims.
Officials cleared the scene by 4 a.m. Friday morning and said more information will be released later. The area was quiet Friday morning. No charges had been filed by midday Friday.
Business owners and locals have been reluctant to speak on the record because of the severity of the incident.
Witnesses tell ABC 17 News that they saw more than a dozen people fighting outside Casablanca before the shooting.
Watch a replay of the scene.
"Lake Ozark officials were quick to note that this isolated incident is not the norm for the community," the statement said.
Law enforcement directed traffic away from the Bagnell Dam Strip on Thursday night while the investigation took place.
