Man accused of shooting in downtown Columbia to begin jury trial Tuesday
Jazsmin Halliburton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A jury trial is set to begin inside the Boone County Courthouse on Tuesday morning for a man charged in connection with a shooting in downtown Columbia last summer.
Charlie Sneed, 41, was charged with shooting at or from a vehicle at a person, building, or car, first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
In August 2024, a Columbia police officer was near South Seventh Street when the officer heard a single gunshot, according to a probable cause statement. The officer found a car stopped on East Broadway and conducted a traffic stop.
Two passengers in the stopped car said they had been shot at, and a witness said they saw Sneed crouched down near a stairwell holding a handgun. The witness pointed at Sneed near the East Broadway and Ninth Street intersection, identifying him as the gunman to the officer, the statement says. The officer identified Sneed by his Colorado driver’s license photo.
Sneed allegedly asked for a lighter and began speaking with the victims. Sneed allegedly touched one of the victims and began saying slurs and curses at them. Sneed and one of the victims exchanged words. Both victims saw Sneed lift his shirt to display the handle of a handgun in his front pant pocket, according to court documents.
The victims began to drive away when they heard a single gunshot and saw Sneed crouched down near a brick structure, according to police. The probable cause statement says the victims saw Sneed pointing the gun at them and they could see the barrel of the gun.
When Sneed was brought to the Columbia Police Department, officers noticed Sneed’s front pocket was turned inside out and there was gunshot residue in his hands.