Two additional people arrested in connection to downtown stabbing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia police arrested two more people believed to be involved in a stabbing in downtown Columbia Monday night.
Police arrested Mark Aungerer, 54, and Kenneth Sanders, 48, Tuesday afternoon near the Wabash Bus Station on Tenth Street. They are both facing second-degree assault charges.
CPD has arrested four people in connection to the stabbing that happened shortly before 7 p.m. at Tenth and Locusts Streets. Police arrested Javonte Hand, 25, and Boyce Hamilton, 49, both from Columbia shortly after the assault.
Court documents say a racial slur incited the violence.
The victim, identified in statements as T.G., had several stab wounds to his torso and lacerations on his head and face, police wrote. He underwent emergency surgery.
Police say the people involved were all local to Columbia, and the suspects knew each other but did not know the victim.
Nickie Davis with the District Downtown Columbia said incidents like this can have a negative impact on business downtown.
"You know, people have an idea that downtown is dangerous. We've seen that I think in the city's survey that they did. We also did a large survey and a lot of our people said that they had no concern being out downtown. But it's things like this that then just weigh on people's minds, even if it happens once or twice a year," Davis said.
She said this can be especially negative during COVID-19 while many businesses are already hanging on a by a thread.
"It's always hard to hear about stuff like this especially with random circumstances. They're just a couple of, keyword, the bad actors that unfortunately then create hardship for our businesses," she said.
Davis said the District has never had any real concern with the safety of downtown, and the group works closely with the police department. There is a substation in the District's office downtown.
Davis said there are also more officers downtown now that the department has taken over enforcing parking downtown.
She also said businesses in the area work with police by providing security footage and any other information they have that can help.
