Local News Archives

Columbia Police Department names interim chief

July 7, 2023 11:34 AM Isabella Roberts

Columbia officials said Friday that Matt Stephens will serve as the interim police chief for the Columbia Police Department beginning July 31.

Columbia nonprofit to host Veteran Resource Fair

July 7, 2023 5:28 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture on Friday will host a Veterans Resource Fair at Columbia’s Agriculture Park under the MU Health Care Pavilion located at 1769 W. Ash Street. The event is scheduled to take place from 5-7 p.m. and will be free to all attending. The event is focused on helping veterans. Organizers

Two men seriously hurt in Macon Co. crash

July 7, 2023 7:47 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, two men were seriously hurt in a Macon County crash on Thursday night. Troopers say 82-year-old Randall Watson failed to yield along Highway O at Highway AX and hit a car with a man and woman inside of it. The driver of the

Columbia man accused of throwing a woman off bridge in 2022 set to appear in court

July 7, 2023 5:45 AM Isabella Roberts

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Friday morning, Jessie Williams is set to have a hearing. He is charged with first degree murder for allegedly pushing 24-year-old Kaylen Schmit off the Highway 63 bridge near Clark Ln. According to court documents, a witness saw Schmit and Williams at a nearby homeless camp arguing over Williams’ belongings. Witnesses then said the two were walking

Man found guilty of illegal gun possession, not guilty of other charges in Columbia murder trial

July 6, 2023 11:19 AM Mitchell Kaminski

Thursday marked the second day of 52-year-old Leo Robinson Jr.’s trial for his alleged involvement in a 2021 murder outside of Waffle House on Vandiver Drive in north Columbia.

Thefts in Columbia this year on pace to match 2022 total, CPD says

July 6, 2023 7:52 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Within the past month, the Columbia Police Department has shown several thefts on its social media pages, asking for the public’s help in identifying the people responsible. CPD detective Brandon Baden said a number of the social media posts refer to people stealing from cars. “If you leave like your wallet in

Two charged in Dove Drive shooting appear in court Thursday

July 6, 2023 6:48 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two Columbia men accused in a June 26 homicide on Dove Drive appeared in court Thursday. Bryton Allen, 19, and Jajuan Crockett, 21 had a confined docket hearing scheduled Thursday at the Boone County Courthouse. A preliminary hearing for Allen is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, July 20, and Crockett’s is scheduled

Voluntary Action Center drops ask for federal funding for homeless center over conflict-of-interest concerns

July 6, 2023 5:24 PM Lucas Geisler

Questions over federal conflict-of-interest rules caused a Columbia nonprofit to pull its funding requests for a homelessness resource center.

Illinois man charged with kidnapping in Miller County

July 6, 2023 5:04 PM Ryan Shiner

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ) A Granite City, Illinois, man was charged Wednesday with multiple felonies after allegedly trying to pull a woman into his vehicle in September. Ryan Gaddy, 47, is charged with second-degree kidnapping and fourth-degree assault. A warrant was issued Thursday and a $100,000 bond was set. He is not in the Miller

Man found guilty in Clark Lane shooting now also charged with assault

July 6, 2023 4:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who was recently sentenced to 18 years in the Department of Corrections is facing more charges. Noah Solbrekken, 23, is charged with third-degree assault after alleging attacking another inmate Wednesday at the Boone County Jail, where he is currently being held. Video footage allegedly showed Solbrekken punch another inmate

Two men charged with attempting to steal $25,000, other felonies

July 5, 2023 9:49 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men were arrested and charged Monday after allegedly trying to steal from an ATM machine. Lemarvin Edmonson, 39, and Daryl Lewis, 27, are charged with attempting to stealing $25,000 or more, second-degree burglary, resisting arrest and possession of burglary tools. Both men are being held at the Boone County Jail without

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Was your neighborhood filled with fireworks on the Fourth of July?

July 6, 2023 2:39 AM ABC 17 News Team

Another Fourth of July has come and gone and the signs of it were everywhere Wednesday.

CPD searching for multiple suspects in connection to Dove Drive homicide

July 5, 2023 5:47 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department said in a Wednesday press release that it is searching for four people accused in a June 26 homicide. CPD is searching for: Alqueze Jones, 19 Deljuan Turner, 19Ja’shaun Barney, 18Deazes Turner, 21 All four Columbia men are charged with second-degree murder, armed-criminal action and unlawful use of

Jefferson City man charged after allegedly stealing car, impersonating police officer

July 5, 2023 9:06 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man faces multiple charges after allegedly stealing a car from the Missouri Department of Transportation parking lot in Jefferson City. William Brooke, 50, is charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. He is being held in the Cole County Jail without bond. A court

Speed humps to be installed on South Garth Avenue this week

July 5, 2023 4:46 PM Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: The City issued an updated press release stating roadwork would take place Thursday. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) City of Columbia Public Works will be installing speed humps on South Garth Avenue on Thursday, according to a Wednesday press release. Work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. The speed humps are part of

Trial for Columbia man charged with murder at a Waffle House underway

July 5, 2023 6:17 AM Isabella Roberts

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) On Wednesday, trial started for 52-year-old Leo Robinson Jr. for his alleged involvement in a 2021 murder outside of Waffle House on Vandiver Drive. Robinson is charged with second-degree murder and armed-criminal action. The trial will continue at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. According to court documents, in March 2021, Robinson was in an

Lack of fire hydrants at I-70 Drive SE fire is because house was built before city’s fire codes

July 5, 2023 11:28 AM Hannah Falcon

A large house fire in the 5100 block of I-70 Drive Southeast was finally extinguished in the early morning hours of Wednesday after blazing since 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Lighting system failure causes delay at Columbia Fire in the Sky event

July 5, 2023 5:14 PM Avery Roehler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s Independence Day celebration, Fire in the Sky, experienced a lighting system failure around the 13-minute mark of the 20-minute firework display Tuesday night at Stephens Lake Park. J&M Displays was the company hired for the celebration. Columbia Parks and Recreation has used them in the past. “They had experienced a failure

Columbia asks for feedback on roundabout at Forum Boulevard and West Green Meadows Road

July 5, 2023 3:56 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia Public Works is seeking public feedback about the roundabout at Forum Boulevard and West Green Meadows Road, according to a Wednesday press release. The feedback will be used to gauge residents’ thoughts about roundabouts, according to the release. Feedback will be collected in a survey on the City’s

Eldon man badly injured in Highway 63 crash in Boone County

July 5, 2023 3:23 PM Matthew Sanders

An Eldon man was hospitalized Wednesday morning with serious injuries after a crash that closed southbound Highway 63 in Boone County.