Suspect in Columbia standoff charged with making terrorist threat

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

Prosecutors have charged a man with first-degree terrorist threat and resisting arrest following a four-hour standoff on Wednesday.

Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old Christopher Dow of Columbia. Officers arrested Dow shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday at his home on Hidden Creek Court on a warrant for third-degree domestic assault.

According to a probable cause statement released by CPD, an officer made contact over the phone with Dow. Dow told officers that he was armed and that if any officers entered the residence, Dow would open fire.

The officer stated that Dow said he would shoot the gas line and blow up the house, "to kill himself and as many officers as he could," said the probable cause statement.

The home is in a residential area, and school buses were dropping off children nearby during the standoff. Police escorted children to their homes from the bus stop.

According to the statement, Dow showed an officer during a video call that he was standing next to a gas water heater with two different handguns. Dow reportedly told the officer he "would blow up the house and kill everyone he could before he came out."

According to the statement, there were approximately 20-30 officers at the scene. Officers cleared the street and evacuated nearby residents in fear that Dow would carry out his threats.

Dow did not leave the residence until officers deployed gas.

The statement says they believe Dow will not appear in court if he receives bond, writing that "Dow stated he would rather die than spend one night in jail," according to the statement.

Dow remained in jail without bond on Thursday morning.