Columbia man accused of shooting person who was cutting through yards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man is accused of shooting another man who was walking through yards in a residential neighborhood Friday.

Kieran R. Piersee, 18, was charged Monday with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon for the Friday night shooting in the 900 block of Moss Street. An initial court appearance was set for Monday afternoon.

Piersee is accused of shooting a man in the legs when the man was cutting through yards next to the apartment building where Piersee lives, according to a probable cause statement. Piersee told the victim not to walk through the apartment yard, but the victim replied he was outside the boundaries of the apartment building property, the statement says.

Police say Piersee retrieved a rifle from his apartment, went outside, and shot the victim. A witness saw the shooting, according to police. Officers found a gun magazine with .22-caliber rounds on Piersee, the statement says.

The victim was hit in the left calf and right foot as Piersee fired at his legs and feet, police say.

The victim told investigators that Piersee fired 12-13 times, according to the statement.

Piersee allegedly admitted to shooting the victim because he saw him walking through his backyard talking to himself. He claims he went inside to retrieve a rifle after the two argued because he felt threatened by the man yelling at him, documents say.

According to Former Cole County Prosecutor Bill Tackett, the Castle Doctrine under Missouri law legally allows a person to use lethal force to defend themselves at their home.

Tackett says it does extend to a person's yard, however, the person has to believe they're in imminent threat of someone using lethal force against them.

"In other words, someone's gotta be trying to kill you or cause serious physical injury to you," Tackett said. "In this case, it's a simple trespass and we're not even sure of that. Because someone is trespassing does not authorize them to use lethal force under the castle doctrine or this case, shooting someone in the foot."

Piersee remained in the Boone County Jail on Monday without bond.