1 dead in shooting at Columbia apartment complex
Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man is dead after a shooting Sunday night at a Columbia apartment complex.
Officers were sent to the Eastgate Apartments at Old 63 and Broadway at about 8 p.m. Police found Zarian Simpson, 18, of Columbia, with a gunshot wound and medics treated him at the scene, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.
Simpson later died at an area hospital. He had graduated from Hickman High School in May, Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said.
A youth has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, police say.
Local activist Daniel Edwards was at Stephen’s Lake Park Monday, holding up his “Stop Killing Each Other” signs with his three sons. He called Simpson’s death “heartbreaking.”
“Having teenagers in this community, I have kids in this community, sad to see kids not being able to solve their problems without killing each other,” Edwards said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol statistics show that Columbia has had 133 gun-related crimes this year. People ages 10-17 were the largest age group of those arrested for violent crime in Columbia, according to the data.
The Kaiser Family Foundation also found a nationwide rise of youth gun violence, with child and teen gun deaths increasing 46% from 2019 to 2021 and holding steady to 2023.
“Back then, it was the adults that were doing the things and kids were mostly fighting,” Edwards said. He encourages parents to show their children patience and self-control.
Edwards is also a supporter of more trauma and grief services being provided by the city.
“If we start them young, and they out here doing the right things at a young age and inspiring each other, that’s what it’s going to take us peers, their peers too, because there’s a disconnection with the adults and the younger generation,” Edwards said.
The investigation is ongoing.