Columbia man seeks to retract guilty plea in downtown shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who pleaded guilty to a shooting in downtown Columbia is asking a judge to retract his plea during his sentencing hearing Tuesday.

Steven Harris, 46, pleaded guilty in January to unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and stealing a gun for a shooting in downtown Columbia in March 2025. Harris sent two letters to Judge Stephanie Morrell asking to withdraw his plea.

Harris is accused of firing shots at a vehicle with a stolen gun near the intersection of Ninth and Walnut streets.

According to court documents, a blue Chevrolet Tahoe hit Harris, leading him to run after the vehicle and fire the gun. Officers reportedly found several shell casings and wrote in court documents that Harris dropped the gun when instructed by police.

In Harris's letter to Judge Morrell, he mentioned his displeasure with his lawyer and that the Tahoe intentionally hit him on the night of the shooting. He claims he was acting in self-defense, according to the letter.

Harris is set to be sentenced at 9 a.m. in the Boone County Courthouse.