Columbia shooting suspect indicted on murder charge

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A grand jury upgraded a charge against a man accused in a deadly shooting outside of Vibez Lounge in downtown Columbia.

The grand jury indicted Curtis Lewis on second-degree murder Friday.

Lewis was initially charged with voluntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the shooting that killed Tershawn Kitchen, 34, of Columbia in early February. Kitchen was a security guard at the nightclub. A woman was also shot, but survived.

According to a probable cause statement, Lewis told officers he was the shooter and handed them a loaded handgun. He also allegedly told officers he was punched right before the shooting.

Police found five shell casings at the scene, according to the statement.

Boone County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Susan Boresi said she couldn't comment on the reason behind the indictment because the case is an active prosecution. She said the indictment charges that Lewis "intended to cause serious physical injury to the victim by shooting him and the victim died as a result."

Online court records show Lewis is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.