Columbia man charged after allegedly threatening to burn down homeless shelter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ

A man was charged with making a terroristic threat after threatening to burn down Room At The Inn.

Brice Key, 21, of Columbia, is charged with making a terroristic threat, fourth-degree assault and second-degree property damage.

Three people allegedly heard Key say he was going to come back and burn down the building after he hit a woman with a “sack lunch,” according to the probable cause statement. There were still people in the building from the night before.

Two people also allegedly saw Key throw a chair at a window, which caused the window to break. He also caused unwanted physical contact with another person, according to the statement.

Key is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.

Room at the Inn provides shelter to those who may need it during winter the winter months. In October, the city approved the purchase of the VFW building on 1509 Ashley St. for the Room at the Inn Como to use as a winter-weather shelter. The city purchased the center on Ashley Street from the VFW.