Columbia police detain four, cite another after downtown water bead gun incident

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Columbia Police Department sent an update on who was detained and cited for the incident.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police cited an 18-year-old and detained four juveniles after they allegedly fired pellets from a water bead gun.

Police cited Hunter Johnson, 18, and detained four others for fourth-degree assault in connection to reports of shots fired in the area of East Broadway and Ninth street.

On July 2, around 8:30 p.m. it was reported that several males were masked and firing pellets at bystanders from an SUV. Officers were able to locate and stop the vehicle around 9 p.m.

Officers say the suspects were firing pellets from a water bead gun. Officers also said in a news release they recovered an actual firearm from Johnson, but it was not fired during the incident.

Three people reportedly got hit by the pellets, but no injuries were reported.

Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones said in the news release, "Thankfully, no one was injured, and no property damage occurred during this incident. The behavior of these individuals, however, created a significant risk for themselves and the public," Jones said. "Anyone who is masked and brandishing a weapon while driving through a crowd is going to get attention."

Jones continued to add in the news release, "if an officer is responding to a call of shots fired or a person with a gun, they will respond as if the gun is real. When they arrive on the scene, officers won’t initially know if it’s a real gun or if it’s a paint gun, a BB gun, or something other than a real weapon."

Columbia police say the investigation is ongoing.