Two men charged in deadly north Columbia drive-by shooting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Prosecutors charged two Columbia men Wednesday with murder in the shooting death of a local man in a residential neighborhood.
Jajuan S. M. Crockett, 21, and Damarkus T. Williams, 18, were each charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the Monday shooting death of 33-year-old Deshon J. Houston outside a home on Dove Drive.
Investigators were able to connect the men to the shooting through witness descriptions of two vehicles involved and information downloaded from a crashed SUV driven from the scene, which had been stolen, according to a probable cause statement.
The statement says police found Houston outside the home on Dove Drive with a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses described shooters in two vehicles.
Police said they pursued four people who jumped out of a crashed Ford Explorer west of the shooting scene but were unable to find them Monday. The SUV had bullet holes in it, police say.
A witness at a south Columbia business also told investigators he saw a suspect that matched Crockett's description throwing trash bags into the dumpster behind the business. The bags contained clothing that matched witness descriptions of the shooters' clothing. Police also found bullets matching the casings found at the crime scene in his apartment, the statement says.
Police also say Williams admitted to driving another vehicle that was involved, an Acura. Witnesses described someone shooting from the Acura's sunroof on Monday, the statement says.
The Acura was seen driving behind the white Ford Explorer after the shooting happened, police say. The statement doesn't clarify why the vehicles were following each other.
Both men were being held in the Boone County Jail on Wednesday without bond.
Crockett was also booked on probation violation warrants, at least one of which was issued in April in connection with a 2021 stealing case. Court records say a judge at that time determined Crockett was a danger to the community.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
