Jefferson City man allegedly admits to shooting girlfriend during argument

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man was charged with four felonies on Monday after he allegedly admitted to shooting his girlfriend during an argument on Saturday.

Jerome Malone, 60, was charged in Cole County with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and illegal gun possession. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond.

An arraignment was held on Monday and Malone pleaded not guilty by video from the jail. Malone stated he wanted to hire private counsel for the case during the arraignment, court filings on Monday show. A counsel status hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday and a preliminary hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14.

The probable cause statement says Malone called first responders at 11:26 a.m. Saturday and stated he shot his girlfriend.

Malone allegedly told police that the victim was upset “with him regarding his relationship with other women,” the statement says. He allegedly told police that the victim pushed him, which caused his hand to get caught in an “already broken windowpane,” the statement says.

He then allegedly went to a different room, found a gun and then went back to shoot the victim, court documents allege. Police wrote that Malone appeared to be intoxicated and he admitted to drinking alcohol before the shooting, the statement says.

The victim allegedly told police that she did not push Malone and that he “was upset about her relationship with other men,” the statement says.

Police wrote that they found a gun, the bullet and a broken windowpane covered in blood, the statement says. The victim was brought to University Hospital for the gunshot wound, the statement says.