Man accused of threatening people with gun at downtown Columbia bar

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

A California man is in custody after allegedly threatening people at a downtown Columbia bar on Saturday night.

Police arrested 34-year-old Gamaliel Martinez of Fresno, California, on suspicion of six crimes: first-degree making a terrorist threat, fourth-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, armed criminal action and resisting arrest. Jail records show he was being held without bond as of Monday afternoon.

Eastside Tavern owner Sal Nuccio told ABC 17 News that the incident happened outside of the bar on East Broadway just before 11 p.m. Saturday. Nuccio said the bar's doorman stopped Martinez from coming in because he was too drunk. After Martinez yelled at the doorman, Nuccio said he left and returned with a rifle. The doorman got everyone on the sidewalk inside the bar and had them get down and toward the back of the bar.

"The gunman then pressed the rifle against the window to show what he had but then placed it against the wall by the entrance," Nuccio said. "My doorman saw this and snuck up on the door, took a deep breath, opened the door, grabbed the rifle and [brought] it inside so the psycho wouldn't have access to it anymore."

Madison Pope and Eliana Huerta were in the bar the night of the incident. Pope was on stage singing karaoke.

"The bouncer and the owner told everyone to get down and the gunman was at the door attempting to get inside," Huertas said.

Both of them said they could see a man with a gun pointed at the bar through the glass door.

"It was really scary. I remember we were holding each other on the ground. I think the moment it really hit me was when I called my mom on the phone and we were sobbing," Pope told ABC 17 News.

"You never think you are going to be in a situation where you think you are going to die until you are in it. My first instinct was to text my 12-year-old sister," Huertas added. "It felt like a half an hour experience but it was probably only like three or four minutes."

Both Pope and Huertas say if not for the bouncers they might not be alive.

"The gunman never passed the entryway into the bar so the bouncer actually got the door and locked the door before he got in," Pope explained. "I believe the gunman had set the gun down and the bouncer took the gun away from him and brought it into the bar and locked the door again."

Nuccio said Martinez then went to the bar at Uprise on Hitt Street where police arrested him. Columbia police did not respond to a request for information on Monday.

Nuccio hailed his staff's actions as heroic.

"We have no problems at Eastside," Nuccio said. "No fights, no drama like a lot of the other places in town. It is a peaceful fun place that draws a good fun crowd who love karaoke and comedy and then this [stuff] happens."

While Pope and Huertas are thankful for Eastside Tavern's staff they say the incident has changed how safe they feel Columbia is.

"I think going forward it is going to be really hard to look at Columbia as this safe place anymore," Huertas said. "We went through a really traumatic experience and I think it will definitely change us and the way we view this college town, unfortunately."