Columbia man charged with two felonies, two misdemeanors in downtown shots-fired

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 20-year-old man was charged Sunday with two misdemeanors and two felonies for allegedly firing shots in downtown Columbia.

Tavan Williams-Patrick of Columbia was charged with the felonies of armed criminal action and exhibiting a weapon illegally, along with the misdemeanors of fourth-degree assault and illegally firing a gun after shots were fired early Sunday near Ninth and Walnut streets.

According to a probable cause statement, Columbia police officers were working a separate incident near Ninth and Walnut around 1:13 a.m. Sunday when they heard three to four gunshots coming from west of the intersection. The statement says the shots were heard in proximity to several officers.

Officer Saige Wells wrote that he ran toward the area where the shots were heard, near 807 E. Walnut St., about half a city block from where officers had been working.

Wells said he saw about eight people running away from the area. As he ran toward the scene, Wells said he saw Williams-Patrick setting down a firearm on the sidewalk in front of the bar 50 Yard Line.

Williams-Patrick was arrested around 1:17 a.m. and placed in a police vehicle. Wells wrote that other officers at the scene found four spent shell casings and a live round of .40-caliber Smith & Wesson ammunition.

Wells alleges Williams-Patrick was armed with a handgun and fired four rounds near about 30 people on a public sidewalk near an open business.

Wells recommended that Williams-Patrick be denied bond because he has previously been arrested for several violent felonies, many of which involved firearms.

The statement says Williams-Patrick has previously been arrested for second-degree murder, armed criminal action twice and unlawful use of a weapon three times.

In 2022, Boone County prosecutors accused Williams-Patrick, who was 16 at the time, and three other teenagers of taking part in a shooting that killed Doxley on McKee Street.

Prosecutors initially charged Williams-Patrick as an adult with felony counts of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with Doxley's death.

Those charges were dropped last year.

Williams-Patrick appeared in court Monday afternoon, where a judge made no changes to his bond.

He is scheduled to return to court at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, for a bond hearing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 24.

The shooting also raised concerns among nearby downtown businesses.

Todd Myers, owner of Room 38, told ABC 17 News his employees were working at the restaurant when the shooting happened nearby early Sunday morning. Myers was working a private event off-site at the time and said his employees called him and sent video before locking themselves inside the restaurant.

Myers said the business has had to take similar precautions before when employees or customers do not feel safe outside.

“We don’t want anybody going out in that mix until they feel safe, that they can leave,” Myers said. “A lot of our folks walk home or walk to their apartments.”

Myers said safety concerns can affect businesses throughout downtown because customers need to feel comfortable walking to their cars, homes, parking garages, or other businesses at night. He said he believes some people are already avoiding certain parts of downtown because of concerns about encountering trouble or crime.

Meyers said he wants the city and police to work more closely with local businesses and develop plans to address safety issues that affect surrounding businesses.

“It has to be actionable. It has to be actual action,” Meyers said. “We have to see results because we’re only seeing negative results at this point.”

Despite his concerns, Meyers said he wants people to continue coming downtown and enjoying the area, especially as Mizzou football season approaches.

ABC 17 News reached out to Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Roger Johnson for an interview Monday. Johnson said he did not have time to meet Monday.