Crime Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should schools have weapon detection systems?

April 12, 2023 2:33 AM ABC 17 News Team

Columbia Public Schools leaders are considering a new security enhancement in district high schools.

Woman sues City of Laurie in federal court; alleges drivers who let others know about ‘speed traps’ are targeted

April 11, 2023 8:08 PM Ryan Shiner

LAURIE, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday against the City of Laurie, claiming the city allows police officers to target drivers who let others on the road know about speed traps by flashing their headlights. No court dates have been announced, yet. The city has been summoned. In court documents,

Jefferson City man charged with murder after woman found dead

April 11, 2023 1:48 PM Matthew Sanders

Jefferson City police say they’ve arrested a man after finding a woman dead with stab wounds Monday.

Columbia Public Schools demonstrates weapons detection system at Hickman High School

April 11, 2023 12:05 PM Ethan Heinz

Columbia Public Schools demonstrated a “touchless” weapons detection system Tuesday in response to high school students’ calls for increased safety amid frequent school shootings.

Jefferson City woman shot in the head in critical condition, boyfriend arrested

April 11, 2023 5:15 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Cole County Sheriff’s Department announced in a press release that a man was arrested after his girlfriend was shot in the head on Tuesday morning. Around 7:14 a.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a call in the 100 block of Bourbon Street. A woman was crying on the call to EMS,

Two arrested in connection with shooting in Columbia commercial area

April 11, 2023 4:37 PM Matthew Sanders

Columbia police said Tuesday that they’ve arrested two people in connection with a shooting outside a gas station in the Conley Road area.

Lake Ozark man arrested following chase, vehicle crashed in loading ramp

April 11, 2023 3:57 PM Ryan Shiner

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ) A Lake Ozark man was arrested following a Monday chase that ended with his vehicle crashing into a loading ramp, according to a social media release from the Miller County Sheriff’s Office. Timothy Crowley, 38, is being held at the Miller County Jail on a $75,000 bond, according to the jail’s

MSHP trooper charged with sexual abuse and kidnapping

April 10, 2023 7:30 PM Marina Diaz

Editor’s note: This story was corrected to say Durbin met the alleged victim on March 23. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An MSHP trooper is facing multiple charges. Jeffery Gilmore Durbin, 30, of Madison, Missouri, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and third-degree kidnapping, a misdemeanor. Durbin was booked into the Boone County Jail on

Three accused in FIJI hazing case appear in court, next court dates set

April 10, 2023 8:51 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A hearing for three men accused in the hazing incident that left a University of Missouri student disabled had a hearing on Monday. Samuel J. Morrison, Blake A. Morsovillo and John James O’Neill are charged with hazing – life endangerment. A motion to continue was filed and granted. Morsovillo and O’Neill are

Two hurt in shooting as Columbia police pursue gunman

April 10, 2023 11:47 AM Matthew Sanders

Columbia police had crime scene tape up at an east Columbia gas station after two people were shot Monday.

Suspect in fatal Moberly crash still in hospital

April 10, 2023 11:51 AM Ethan Heinz

Steven Garrett, the man arrested by Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers following a fatal head-on collision last week in Moberly, has yet to be released from University Hospital.

Assault is fifth-leading cause of workplace deaths, National Safety Council says

April 10, 2023 8:05 PM Avery Roehler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A gunman opened fire at a bank in Downtown Louisville Monday morning, killing four people. Louisville police have now said they have reason to believe the shooter, who has yet to be identified was a previous employee at the bank. The National Safety Council reports that assault is the fifth leading cause

Man arrested, charged with rape in Boone County; charge from 2001

April 10, 2023 4:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Arizona man has been charged with rape in Boone County. Lonny Ray Caldwell, 52, of Fordyce, Arizona, was charged with forcible rape in February, but was arrested March 29 — according to Casenet – in Dallas County, Arkansas. The Dallas County Sheriff told ABC 17 News that Caldwell was arrested on

Columbia Police respond to shots fired call in the Loop

April 9, 2023 10:25 AM Ethan Heinz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department responded to a shots fired call early Sunday morning near the corner of 8th street and North Boulevard. An ABC 17 reporter spoke with police on scene who told him that they cannot confirm if there were shots fired due to a lack of evidence in the area.

Sedalia minor attempts to stab police officer

April 8, 2023 8:16 PM Abby Landwehr

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A suspect reportedly attempted to stab a Sedalia Police officer Saturday afternoon. Officers responded to reports of a robbery in the 800 block of Ruth Ann Drive around 3:45 Saturday afternoon, according to a news release. The report came from an anonymous caller who said they were robbed at gunpoint. The call

Man accused of shaking baby now charged with murder

April 7, 2023 4:40 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man who was accused of shaking a baby has been charged with murder. Kristopher J. Ruiz, 28, is charged with second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child, first-degree domestic assault, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree domestic assault. A warrant was issued Friday. No

Centralia man charged with child enticement

April 7, 2023 7:38 PM Ryan Shiner

CENTRALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Centralia man is facing multiple child enticement charges after police say he was sending inappropriate messages to minors on a chatroom application. Tanner Burton, 26, is charged with two counts of child enticement of a child younger than 15 years old. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without

Woman whose baby allegedly overdosed faces drugs charges

April 7, 2023 5:35 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who was charged after her baby allegedly overdosed is facing more charges. Jessina Pedroza, 29, has now been charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance of 35 grams or less and three counts of possession of a controlled substance. A $20,000 bond was set for those charges. She was

Jefferson City man charged with rape in Callaway County

April 7, 2023 5:16 PM Ryan Shiner

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was charged Friday for allegedly raping a woman in Callaway County on Wednesday. Drake Fullingim-Guerra, 30, is charged with first-degree rape. He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. Jefferson City Police met with the alleged victim in the emergency room of Capital Region

Man charged with several felonies, allegedly attacked people at house with knife

April 6, 2023 3:50 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia teenager has been charged after he allegedly assaulted multiple people at a south Columbia residence on Tuesday. Troy Bateman Jr., 18, is charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree domestic assault, second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and armed-criminal action. He is being held in the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment was