Columbia shooting charges allege suspect was part of group that fired on car with 3 people
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man suspected in a Columbia shooting that left two people injured was part of a group that opened fire on a vehicle carrying three people, according to court documents.
Ammanuel A. Minuye, 23, was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the northeast Columbia shooting.
Officers were called at about 7 p.m. Thursday to the 4500 block of Alan Lane. Officers found a victim in the 3900 block of Clark Lane and another in the 1700 block of North Ballenger Lane, according to the Columbia Police Department. The victim on Clark Lane had minor injuries, but the Ballenger Lane victim's wounds were life-threatening, CPD says.
One of the victims, according to a probable cause statement, was with Minuye when the group in the car fired back at them.
The statement says Minuye and two other people approached a car that was sitting on Alan Lane, and that one person in Minuye's group opened fire, according to the people in the car. The people in the car fired back, hitting a person who was with Minuye, the statement says. That person was found with a gunshot wound on Ballenger Lane.
The people in the car drove to a nearby Casey's, where police found one gunshot victim.
Minuye told police that only one other person was with him that night, but security video shows he was with two people, the statement says.
Both victims were stable at a local hospital Friday morning, police say. Minuye was in the Boone County Jail on no bond on Friday. Judge Jayne Pearman scheduled a bond hearing for Minuye on Feb. 5 and a preliminary hearing on March 17.
Ward 3 City Councilwoman Jacque Sample said the recent shootings in the area are deeply concerning.
“Any act of gun violence — whether it results in injury, loss of life, or simply the fear it creates — affects not only the individuals directly involved, but entire neighborhoods,” Sample told ABC 17 News in a statement.
Sample emphasized that public safety requires a collaborative approach involving law enforcement, community organizations, schools, families and local government. While declining to comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigation, she said city leaders must continue examining data-driven strategies, including:
- How we are supporting proactive, community-based policing strategies.
- Whether our data identifies patterns that allow for early intervention.
- What prevention efforts — particularly those focused on youth engagement and conflict resolution — can be strengthened.
- How environmental design, lighting, and neighborhood infrastructure may contribute to safety.
- How we ensure residents know how to report concerns and access resources.
“Ward 3 deserves to feel safe. Every neighborhood in our city deserves to feel safe,” Sample said. “I remain committed to working with my fellow council members, our city staff, law enforcement, and community partners to examine practical steps that reduce violence and increase trust. I also encourage residents to stay engaged—attend meetings, share information, and remain active participants in strengthening our community. Safety is not partisan. It is not ideological. It is fundamental. And it must remain a priority.”
