Two charged in downtown Columbia shooting on Sunday; 1 accused in preceding fight

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The three people arrested early Sunday in connection with a fight and shooting in Downtown Columbia have now been charged.

Tanikya Dunn, 19, of Sikeston, Missouri, Kalvin Johnson, 20 and Jearlissia Jackson, 18, both of Columbia were all arrested for their alleged roles in the fight and the shooting that followed. Arrest records give Johnson a Sikeston address, but no address is listed in court records.

According to online court records, Johnson has been charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon resulting in injury or death. Jackson has been charged with accessory to first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

Dunn is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

According to a release from the department, police responded to a disturbance around 3 a.m. in the 10 block of South Ninth Street. The incident began as a physical disturbance near South Ninth Street and Broadway at 2 a.m., the release states.

Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jenny Hopper wrote in an email the department arrived shortly after receiving the call "to ensure the safety of all innocent bystanders, secured the scene to provide necessary medical aid, detained any suspects, and then began the careful process of collecting available evidence."

One woman was shot in a vehicle near the disturbance and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The shooting victim identified Jackson as being in the SUV from which the bullets were fired and said Jackson's boyfriend, later identified as Johnson, was the shooter, according to a probable cause statement.

A large fight involving at least 10 people at Ninth Street and Broadway preceded the shooting, the victim allegedly told police. Dunn is accused of hitting another person in the head with a liquor bottle during the fight.

Dunn left in a separate vehicle from Jackson and Johnson, according to a probable cause statement. Dunn, Johnson and Jackson all remained in the Boone County Jail without bond on Monday morning.

In 2023, the Downtown Community Improvement District sent grant applications for downtown businesses to get security cameras.

"We have had more unfortunate incidences like last night in the downtown area," said Nickie Davis, who is the executive director for the Downtown Community Improvement District. "We were just trying to find ways to help our businesses, help the police find the people doing these types of things," she said.

Meanwhile, a manager at Pizza Tree in downtown Columbia said she feels like the number of shootings have increased.

"I feel like there just been so many shootings recently in downtown," Lorelei Dohm said. "And they're always so close to Peachtree... I walk alone to my car at night. Also hearing that that gal was just in the crossfire and wasn't even in the situation. That's a fear...getting caught in crossfire.

CPD dispatch logs show the department has responded to 21 calls in the area since the start of 2023.

Dohm said she feels like the city needs more officers to patrol downtown around the time bars close, which is around 1 a.m.

"I just think if maybe we had more folks patrol after bars are out," Dohm said. "I feel like a lot of our police are maybe focused on bars and underage drinking when maybe there are slightly more important things," she said.

Dohm said at Pizza Tree, they use a "buddy system" when taking out the trash in order to be cautious.

"We like to do a buddy system because we have to walk down a couple of alleys to take our trash," Dohm said. "Also, you're carrying some heavy stuff and you're kind of vulnerable, so we really don't want to have anyone in a risky or dangerous situation,” she said.

Hopper stated over email that downtown safety is a priority for the department.