Columbia man accused in September shooting has ‘strong self-defense claim,’ prosecutor says

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was accused of shooting another man in September has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Kadean Cunningham, 21, pleaded guilty on Monday to fourth-degree assault and was sentenced to 110 days in the Boone County Jail and was given credit for all the time served. He was originally charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and second-degree domestic assault.

Previous reporting indicates that Cunningham shot another man who was dating his ex-girlfriend during a fight at a restaurant. However, Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson told ABC 17 News in an email that “there was a strong self-defense claim” and that their “main witnesses” were not responsive.

Johnson wrote in the email that the remaining witnesses gave conflicting statements ranging from Cunningham and the victim struggling over the gun, to the gun falling out of Cunningham’s pocket.

Johnson wrote that Cunningham pleaded guilty to hitting the victim in the head while he was on the ground. The victim was shot before the hit, but the hit to the head was not done in self-defense, Johnson wrote.