Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two juveniles were arrested in connection with a May 15 shooting in the 4600 block of Rice Road, according to a Wednesday press release from the Columbia Police Department.
The release says a youth was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree assault, while another was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.
Police confirmed last week that a youth was shot in the 4600 block of Rice Road, near Meadowvale Court. Police wrote on Thursday that the victim had a gunshot wound and was brought to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Columbia Police Department has responded to several incidents involving youth this year, including other incidents of crime in May. CPD said it detained two juveniles on charges of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action in connection with a May 9 armed robbery.
Two juveniles also escaped from the Juvenile Justice Center in the Prathersville area earlier this month by allegedly climbing a recreation fence. Initial information said the two were being detained for charges of first-degree assault and murder. Two juveniles were also detained after a Downtown shooting in April.
A 16-year-old was also charged with several felonies earlier this year for his alleged involvement in a shooting near the Columbia mall in January. Court documents say Samiyon Myers was seen on security footage displaying a handgun and shooting it at a car with four people inside. Police in January said several juveniles were also detained in connection with the shooting.
According to data provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 132 violent crimes have been reported within the Columbia Police Department’s jurisdiction this year. The largest age group of those arrested are youth ages 10-17 with 70 arrests, with the next-highest being 25-34 year olds with 64 arrests.
Violent crime within the data set includes murder (consisting of murder and non-negligent manslaughter), robbery, aggravated assault and rape. Victims are always individuals and one crime will be counted for each victim
Columbia’s Office of Violence Prevention administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown told ABC 17 News after Wednesday’s arrest that he believes much of the violence is caused by trauma.
“Some of it is you know, adverse childhood experiences. I mean, all these things…if we’re not informed on what is driving an individual to act out in away that is really inhumane and then even the normalizing…I think as a society, we normalize violence,” Thomas-Brown said.
He said he believes much of the violence seen in youths is due to growing up in an environment where trauma was normalized. That is something his office is working to curb.
Thomas-Brown said mentorship plays a huge part in achieving that, but also said the city needs to look at the availability of firearms and substances. He also said the city needs to focus on looking at developmental trends as the city continues to grow.
Thomas-Brown said much of his work in his nearly two months has consisted of meeting with community and service organizations to figure out collaborative work and looking at what has been successful in other cities.
Education is something he said is key in preventing youth violence moving forward and working to identify gaps.
“Helping to educate the parents, and that’s not me particularly that’s me working in tandem with community-based organizations,” Thomas-Brown said. “That’s working with you know, we’re setting up a meeting with Columbia Public Schools where that’s me getting the permission out to these community-based organizations to focus on trauma informed community oriented system of care.”
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