Columbia man charged with murder in weekend death

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action after a man was found dead Saturday north of Columbia.

David E. Myers, 54, was arrested early Sunday on Sycamore Hills Road after Anthony Lockwood, 39, was found unresponsive there at about 7 p.m. Saturday.

Lockwood was found lying across the road from 1800 W. Sycamore Hills Road, according to a probable cause statement. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

A witness told investigators that Myers and Lockwood were in an argument, then Myers chased Lockwood into the road with a pole or stick from his covered porch, according to the statement. The witness said Myers hit Lockwood and that Myers stopped the attack but then resumed beating Lockwood, according to the statement.

The witness did not see what became of Lockwood but told investigators that Myers was seemingly trying to wipe something from the road, according to the statement.

Myers, who was wearing different clothes when interviewed than what the witness described him wearing during the attack, did not admit to attacking Lockwood, according to the statement. Myers said he has the right to protect himself, according to the statement.

Myers was in the Boone County Jail on Monday without bond. An initial hearing in his case was scheduled for Monday afternoon.