Columbia man charged with murder after allegedly killing father Thursday morning

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged Thursday afternoon after he was accused of stabbing his father to death in the street in front of a home.

Alen Muslic was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Court documents stated Muslic had multiple cuts on his hands and was brought to University Hospital for treatment. He is not currently listed on the Boone County Jail roster.

The Columbia Police Department stated in a Thursday afternoon press release that Muslic is currently in custody at Fulton State Hospital. Police also stated in the release that the victim was Zufer Muslic, 62, of Columbia. Zufer Muslic's name was redacted in the probable cause statement.

A warrant was ordered on Thursday for Alen and no bond was set.

Police responded to the 700 block of Medina Drive around 12:15 a.m. for a disturbance and remained on the scene until just before 9 a.m. An ABC 17 reporter said the crime scene was taken down at 8:30 a.m.

According to the probable cause statement, Boone County Joint Communications had received a call stating someone "got call from friend that lives here, saying dad is dead," as well as "friend was afraid to go to jail, unsure why." The victim's name was not included in the probable cause statement.

Police in the statement say a large amount of blood was seen in the street in front of a house, as well as a knife. Law enforcement used a search warrant and found a second bloody knife in the kitchen, according to the statement. Police also allegedly saw a blood trail on the street to the back of the house, as well as blood on the walls on the inside of the house and bloody footprints in the kitchen.

Alen Muslic was interviewed at the Columbia Police Department and allegedly told officers that he got into an argument that turned into a fight. Alen Muslic allegedly stated that he and Zufer Muslic began pushing each other, the statement says.

Alen Muslic allegedly first told law enforcement that Zufer punched him first, and then stated he punched Zufer first, according to court documents. Alen Muslic told police he was pinned at one point and was getting punched in the back of the head by Zufer.

Alen Muslic allegedly said he eventually got up, grabbed two knives and Zufer left the house, the statement says. Alen Muslic allegedly admitted that the fight was over. However, Alen Muslic said he followed Zufer Muslic out into the street and stabbed him.

The statement says Alen Muslic initially told law enforcement that he stabbed the victim while they were standing up. But, he eventually said that after Zufer fell, Muslic stabbed him two more times and decided to kill him, according to the statement.

Susan Renee Carter, who has lived in the neighborhood for 28 years says that the fight was not an isolated incident. 

“Other neighbors that knew them said that the dad and son fought a lot," Carter said.  "I did see about three weeks ago, there were police officers, probably about four or five cars and I think they were at that particular house."

Police dispatch logs show police responded to a call in the 700 Block of Medina Dr for a missing person on Oct. 22. Police were also dispatched to the 800 Block of Medina on Oct 3 for a suspicious incident.

Carter added that it is usually a quiet neighborhood.

"The whole time I've lived there to the best of my knowledge, there has never been anything. One year a couple of Christmas packages were stolen and one year some kid hit somebody with a pumpkin because he thought it was funny but we have really had nothing."

Boone County Prosecutor Roger Thompson stated the punishment range for first-degree murder if convicted, ranges from life imprisonment to the death penalty. Thompson also asked anyone with additional information to reach out to Crime Stoppers.

Along with the Crime Scene Investigation van, there were six Columbia Police patrol cars seen outside the home. An ABC 17 reporter saw investigators using a drone and placing three evidence markers around the house.

Check back for updates as this story is developing.