Jury trial begins in Holts Summit deadly shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The state presented more witness testimony Tuesday as the jury trial for a deadly 2025 Holts Summit shooting continues.

This testimony included new information on both Smith's retelling of events and the whereabouts of Dills' gun following the shooting.

A 12-person jury was picked Monday to decide the fate of 38-year-old Heather Smith, who allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old Kara Dills at Hunter Lane Apartments in April 2025.

Smith is facing charges of second-degree murder, child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

Smith claims the shooting was in self-defense. It followed a tense situation between Smith and Dills' family in the apartment's parking lot after children who were family members of Smith and Dills got into an altercation while riding bikes.

Following a confrontation between Smith and Dills, Dills allegedly pistol-whipped Smith and walked away. When Dills hit Smith, the gun went off, grazing a man on his head. Smith then allegedly shot Dills in the stomach, killing her.

According to Callaway County Lt. Ryan Lacey, Smith's testimony following the shooting differed. He confirmed that Smith made claims including Dills shot a gun at her head from a distance away during the altercation.

Dills' mother, Deanna Dills, also revealed that following the shooting, she lied to officials about Dills' gun.

"I was afraid for my daughter. I felt like she would get in trouble, and I didn't want her in trouble," Deanna Dills said. "I didn't know she was dead yet."

Deanna Dills later showed the gun to officials when they asked a second time later in the investigation.

Lacey also confirmed that he did not arrest Deanna Dills for initially lying about the gun for two reasons.

"The first one was the homicide investigation took priority, ensuring that all the bases were covered, all steps were taken." Lacey said. "The second was, Deanna watched her daughter get killed."

The prosecution alleged during opening statements that before the confrontation, Smith initially threatened both Dills' mother and boyfriend with a gun.

Deanna Dills testified that Smith walked up to her porch first to comment about their children and then later left. Smith then returned to confront Deanna Dills again and flashed a gun that was holstered in the waistband of her shorts, allegedly saying, "I'm not afraid of nobody."

Deanna Dills was with a 9-year-old girl, who is a close family friend and considered a granddaughter of Deanna during the altercation.

"I grabbed [her] arm started to walk backwards, I didn't want my granddaughter to get shot by somebody, so I was just trying to get back inside," Deanna Dills said. "I was shocked that there was a gun involved."

Video surveillance showed Smith threatening witnesses with a pistol in the parking lot before the shooting.