Two hurt in shooting as Columbia police pursue gunman
Watch video from the scene.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia police had crime scene tape up at an east Columbia gas station after two people were shot Monday.
The tape was up outside the Hy-Vee gas station on Trimble Road in the Conley Road area. Five police vehicles and a Crime Scene Investigation van were at the scene. At least 10 evidence markers could be seen on the ground outside the gas station.
Police had drones and a helicopter in the air near the Columbia Country Club. A spokesman for the Columbia Police Department initially told ABC 17 News it wasn't clear whether or not the suspect ran away or left in a car.
Two people were shot and taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, a Columbia Police Department spokesman said. Officers were looking for at least one shooter. Police asked the public to avoid the area.
Police were also at the nearby Aldi supermarket. CPD spokesman Christian Taba confirmed that one of the vehicles involved in the shooting went to the Aldi, prompting police to also search this area.
As of Monday evening, police said that no suspect was in custody, and that they did not have any suspect information available.
"While initial reports do not indicate threats to the public at this time, we're conducting our investigation and we'll have additional information at a later time," Tabak said.
Tabak also said that people should not resort to violence, no matter the circumstance.
"We like to say in these situations, if there's a conflict, please don't resort to gun violence as a means of resolving it," Tabak said. "A lot of the gun violence in Columbia does stem from relational conflict...people who know each other and seek to resolve that conflict unfortunately through violent means...violence is never an option."
A StateFarm employee who works across the street from where the shooting occurred said she was not able to hear the gun shots, but recalls the moments that transpired shortly after.
"There was a black car at the first pump and a white suv (Mercedes) in front of it...Steve's pest control came in here and said that he heard a woman yelling "help," she said. "There was a gentleman that was kind of limping from the black car into his white suv, the Mercedes and he just like sped off."
The gas station was closed for a little more than an hour. Crime scene tape came down at 12:57 p.m., and the gas station was open to the public around 1 pm.
Shortly after the shooting, the Columbia fire department arrived at the scene to clean up the area. Police also took a part a gas pump, along with the help of workers. It is not yet clear why this was done. Two cars were also towed from the gas station.
The Columbia Police Department said they will continue to investigate the shooting, and alert the public when more information is available.
