Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Columbia man accused in gas station killing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed on Thursday against a Columbia man who was accused of shooting and killing another man at Columbia gas station.
Seth Andrew Brinegar, 18, of Columbia, was charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
According to a probable cause statement, Brinegar is accused of shooting and killing Corey Bilger at the FastLane parking lot on West Boulevard on Feb. 1. Bilger was 33.
Brinegar was arrested the night of the shooting and posted a $600,000 bond on March 15, according to court records. A hearing in the criminal case was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 5 at the Boone County Courthouse.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Kelsey Benedict, who is described as the mother of Bilger’s two children. She and the children are listed as plaintiffs. A summons was issued on Friday for Brinegar.
According to previous reporting, court documents say security video shows Bilger talking on a phone while pumping gas when Brinegar pulled into the parking lot. The video allegedly shows Brinegar with his window down and talking to someone before stopping behind the Bilger's vehicle. Bilger approached Brinegar's vehicle and was gunned down, the statement says.
Several customers were at the open gas station, police say. A car with a 6-month-old passenger was hit, but the baby wasn't hurt, court documents say.
A witness told police that Brinegar had been yelling and cursing at Bilger before the shooting, court documents say. The victim was not armed, according to previous reporting. Brinegar allegedly told police he had accused Bilger of following him before he shot the victim, court documents say.
