Columbia man charged with eight felonies in alleged truck assault

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged Monday with eight felonies after allegedly running over three people early Sunday.

Boone County prosecutors charged Andy Cenobio, 19, with four counts of first-degree assault and four counts of armed criminal action.

Columbia Police say a man identified as J.E. was with three friends and his girlfriend at El Poblano restaurant in the 2500 block of Old 63 South early Sunday. A victim allegedly told the police that three suspects inside the restaurant, one being Cenobio, were being creepy to his girlfriend before leaving. The alleged victim and his group later left and saw Cenobio and his group fighting an unknown person in the parking lot, according to a probable cause statement.

J.E. reportedly told police that he and his friends went to break up the fight and help the unknown person, but then they got involved in a fight with Cenobio's group. The suspects then got into a white 2007 Chevrolet Silverado that Cenobio was driving and turned around, hitting J.E. and his friends, the statement says.

Cenobio allegedly drove away. J.E. and three of his friends were hurt, one with a head injury and brain bleed reported by University Hospital staff, one with a fractured left ankle and one with a broken right ankle, the statement says.

Police wrote that Cenobio admitted to getting into a fight in the parking lot and said he was angry and drove towards J.E. and his group "trying to scare them." He later said he "might have hit them, with his truck," according to the probable cause statement.

J.E.'s girlfriend told police that she arrived at the restaurant to meet J.E. and the group with her friend. While at the restaurant, Cenobio's group allegedly got close to her and her friend, asking to kiss them and to dance. J.E. and his friends later told the suspects to stop, leading to the fight, according to the statement

No hearing had been set for Cenobio as of Monday afternoon.