Boone County jury returns guilty verdict in Columbia shooting case
Madison Stuerman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Boone County jury found a Columbia man guilty Wednesday after he shot at a car in downtown Columbia in August 2024.
Charlie Sneed III, 42, was charged with seven felonies, including unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and first-degree assault.
The jury returned with the guilty verdict late Wednesday after deliberating for several hours. The trial started on Tuesday with opening statements and arguments from the prosecution. The state continued its case on Wednesday, followed by the defense during the afternoon, according to the Boone County prosecutor.
Prosecutor Roger Johnson said Sneed was found guilty of six felonies: unlawful use of a weapon while shooting at a car, unlawful use of a weapon in a threatening way, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a gun by a felon and tampering with physical evidence.
The jury did not find Sneed guilty of first-degree assault.
Court documents state that a witness saw Sneed shoot at two passengers in a car at East Broadway and Ninth Street on Aug. 3, 2024.
Officers found one shell casing near where Sneed was standing when the witnesses saw him shoot the handgun. The black and gold Smith and Wesson EZ 9mm Performance Center handgun was found in a flower pot near where witnesses saw Sneed.
Johnson said Sneed could face a range of 15 years to life in prison.
The judge will decide on his sentencing on Aug. 8.