Jefferson City man accused of robbing someone during video call

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man was accused of robbing someone Tuesday night while he was on a video call on his cellphone, court documents allege.

Billy J. Reed, 30, was charged with first-degree robbery. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says the victim went to the Jefferson City Police Department just after midnight Wednesday, about 30 minutes after the incident took place near Community Park.

The victim allegedly rode a single-wheeled scooter when Reed demanded for the victim to empty their pockets, court documents allege. The victim didn’t see a gun, but claimed Reed’s shirt was pointing and it appeared he was holding one under his clothes, the statement says. Reed was allegedly on a video call with family at the time the robbery allegedly occurred.

The victim gave up their keys and cellphone before getting away, the statement says. Reed allegedly then went into a home on Maple Street, the statement says. Police in the area were able to match a vehicle with Reed’s driver’s license and the victim was able to identify Reed through his driver’s license photo, the statement says.

Police tried contacting Reed and he eventually went outside his home to surrender, the statement says. Reed’s fiancé allegedly told police that the victim was the instigator and that Reed had left the victim’s belongings at a condemned building, which were eventually recovered by police, court documents say.