Charges filed again on man accused in February 2020 Vibez shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was previously indicted on a murder charge has had charges filed again in relation to a February 2020 shooting in downtown Columbia.

Curtis Allen Lewis, 40, was charged on Friday with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action. A warrant was requested by the prosecution on Friday. A court date has not been set.

He was initially charged with voluntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the shooting that killed Tershawn Kitchen, who was a security guard at Vibez nightclub, according to previous reporting.

According to a probable cause statement, Lewis told officers he was the shooter and handed them a loaded handgun. He also allegedly told officers he was punched right before the shooting. A woman was also shot in the face, but she survived, previous reporting indicates.

According to court documents, the Columbia Police Department sent Lewis’ gun to the FBI for ballistics testing while Lewis was in custody. Due to staffing shortages, the FBI never completed the tests, according to the motion to set bond.  Court documents claim the FBI still gave expected completion dates.

The case was dismissed by the state because the FBI did not complete the ballistics test and was in possession of the gun, according to the motion to set bond. “The FBI has returned all evidentiary items to the Columbia Police Department and this case can now proceed to trial,” the motion to set bond says.

Check back for updates to this developing story.