Columbia man, 33, killed in Dove Drive homicide
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A 33-year-old Columbia man was killed Monday in a residential area of north Columbia.
Police on Tuesday identified the victim as Deshon J. Houston and said his next-of-kin have been notified. Police found Houston with an apparent gunshot wound after a shots-fired call on Dove Drive.
Meanwhile, police continue to search for four men -- who they say are armed and dangerous -- who could be connected to Monday's homicide. The Columbia Police Department is asking the public's help finding them.
Although no suspects were in custody Tuesday afternoon, Columbia Police Department spokesman Christian Tabak said Monday that there is no active threat to the community. Tabak said Tuesday morning that CPD has no new information about the death and investigation, but the department is following multiple leads.
(1) Columbia Police can now confirm the identity of the victim in yesterday’s homicide on Dove Drive as Deshon Joseph Houston, 33, of Columbia. His next of kin have been notified, and we extend our condolences to his friends and family. pic.twitter.com/rK7PkiUklW
— ColumbiaPD (@ColumbiaPD) June 27, 2023
Police responded to a home on the 3200 block of Dove Drive around 4:30 p.m. Monday for shots fired, where they found a person dead, later identified as Houston. Police then responded to a second scene in the 3800 block of West Gibbs Street near Interstate 70 Drive Northwest that they say was connected to the Dove Drive scene.
A resident that lives in the area said, "For us, we heard a huge boom and actually thought it was a sonic boom."
Officers responded to a crash on West Gibbs Road and believe the four suspects in the death on Dove Drive were in the crashed vehicle, fled went into the woods and were "possibly armed."
CPD said the four men were possibly flagging down vehicles in neighborhoods off of Interstate 70 between North Stadium Boulevard and Route UU.
Multiple law enforcement agencies searched the area for hours with K-9s and helicopters but the suspects were not found.
Police say they found the victim's body outside of a home.
