Columbia Police identify suspect shot by officers in gas station confrontation

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Police say a California man was the suspect shot by officers on Christmas Day inside a gas station.

Marc Lucas, 31, was identified as the suspect in two separate incidents that preceded the shooting Thursday morning inside a Break Time gas station near Highway 63 and East Stadium Boulevard, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a news release.

In the first incident at about 9:20 a.m. Thursday, Lucas is accused of first-degree arson and first-degree property damage in the 3300 block of Lemone Industrial Boulevard, the release states. CPD provided no details about the alleged arson, but said officers didn't at first realize Lucas was a suspect.

"Columbia Police were not aware when they interacted with Lucas that he was the suspect in the arson investigation," the release states.

Officers were called a little after 10 a.m. to the 1400 block of Cinnamon Hill Lane, where Lucas is accused of first-degree trespassing, three counts of fourth-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action, police say. CPD did not release other details about the call.

Officers encountered Lucas inside the Break Time about an hour later when he "attempted to attack a patron inside a store with a knife," according to the release.

Officers used a Taser on Lucas, who had a knife, and then used a gun when he tried to assault an officer, the release says.

Lucas was hospitalized after the shooting. He was not in the Boone County Jail on Friday afternoon.

The two officers who fired at Lucas during the encounter were placed on administrative leave while the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigates.

Missouri courts were closed on Friday, so it was not clear whether Lucas had been charged.

Information about Lucas' medical condition was not immediately available.