Month: June 2025

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several witnesses took the stand on the second day of a jury trial for a deadly shooting in 2023 at a former Columbia nightclub.

The four-day jury trial for Kimo Spivey began Monday morning. Court reconvened around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, where the prosecution called several witnesses to the stand.

Spivey, 35, of Columbia is charged with first-degree murder, illegal gun possession, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action.

He’s accused in the shooting death of Melvin Hooker III outside Plush Lounge in Columbia in May of 2023.

The prosecution in the case called several witnesses to the stand on Tuesday, including current and former Columbia Police Department officers who responded to the night the shooting occurred.

A Trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control spoke about digital evidence from the lounge the night of the shooting.

Assistant Boone County Prosecutor Tony Gonzalez said Monday in court that Spivey is a felon and should not have had a gun. The state called the Boone County Circuit Clerk, as well as the record keeper from the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center, to further its claim that Spivey has a history of felonies. They both spoke on Spivey’s previous convictions in felony cases from 2013 and 2009.

Three people were charged in the shooting. Samuel Moss Jr, of Columbia, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Justin Lamar Simpson, 42, is charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action and illegal gun possession. His next court date was not listed on Casenet.

Two CPD crime scene investigators who responded to the scene also testified on the stand Tuesday to discuss photos taken on scene, along with how the process helps with the collection of evidence. The longest of the witnesses came from a Plush Lounge Security guard, who was on the stand for about an hour and a half.

The man– who asked that his identity not be revealed– claimed he was working as a security guard the night of the shooting. The man claimed he was notified of a disturbance in the parking lot that night, and went outside to find Hooker hitting his girlfriend. He claims he fought with Hooker after asking him to leave the club, who pinned him against a vehicle. He said he eventually believed the situation was under control.

The security guard said he heard Hooker say “y’all got guns I got guns too” at some point during an altercation between a group of people including Spivey, Moss, Simpson and Hooker. He said he heard what sounded like “war” when describing the amount of gunshots that were fired off.

The man claimed he saw Spivey and Moss with guns in their hands that night and claims he saw Spivey shoot his gun. However, he was unsure of who shot first. He also claimed he fired off two rounds from his own gun after being shot at when gunshots rang out.

The prosecution also played surveillance video in the courtroom of the roughly six minutes before the shooting occurred. Gonzalez asked the security guard various questions, including identifying which man was which in the video.

The defense cross examined, emphasizing that the security guard did not know exactly who shot Hooker. He also questioned why he shot his own gun, claiming he didn’t know who he was shooting toward. The man responded by saying he shot out of self-defense.

Spivey’s attorney said on Monday that Spivey acted in self-defense. The defense did not call any defenses to the stand on Tuesday.

Court documents in previous reporting say a witness allegedly told police that they saw “Spivey shoot and kill hooker” after an argument between a group of people.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man is in custody after being charged with nine felonies after he is accused of robbing a person at gunpoint.

Aaron Jones, 24, of Columbia, was charged with first-degree robbery, four counts of Armed Criminal Action, two counts of unlawful possession for being a dangerous felon, unlawful use of a weapon – exhibiting and one count of stealing a gun.

Court documents state officers were called to the parking lot of a Dollar General on June 14 for a report of a robbery. Police said the victim told them he was robbed by Jones on Orchard Lane after meeting up to buy ammunition.

Officers said the victim told them he was meeting with Jones to buy ammunition for his gun. The victim allegedly told police that while showing Jones his gun, he pulled his gun and pointed it at the victim’s head.

The victim told police he was scared for his life and left the scene before he called 911, according to court documents. The victim said he knew Jones through a family member. Documents state he showed police text messages agreeing to meet with Jones, along with a photo. The officer confirmed Jones was the person using the photo from the Department of Corrections.

Prosecutors wrote in court documents that Jones has prior convictions resulting in probation, including stealing a gun in 2019 and unlawful use of a weapon while in possession of drugs in 2020.

A spokesperson with the Department of Corrections told ABC 17 News Jones was in custody from October 2022 until April 18 and he is currently on parole supervision.

An initial appearance is set for Tuesday afternoon at the Boone County Courthouse.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Local first responders have responded to multiple heat-related service calls since Friday.

The Columbia Fire Department told ABC 17 News on Tuesday that firefighters have responded to five calls. Cole County EMS said on Monday it had responded to three heat-related calls.

“Folks are out there doing yard work, hottest time of the day, they’re not drinking enough water, not even enough food, they start to feel faint and everything,” CFD spokesperson Katherine Rodriguez said. “That’s when we come in and we try to get that person feeling better.”

Boone County Fire Protection District also posted a warning of heat-related illness as Mid-Missouri faces a summer heatwave.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather team is forecasting temperatures to feel like 100 degrees on Wednesday.

The Mayo Clinic found that heat-related illness can take effect within 15 minutes, with common symptoms including nausea, a high heart rate and feeling faint or dizzy. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should drink water and seek shelter indoors.

Heat stroke, which can be fatal, also includes symptoms of a high body temperature more than 100 degrees, no sweating and a headache. EMS should be called immediately, and the person should be moved to a cooler area until help arrives.

Rodriguez added the dangers often don’t stop at heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

“This extreme heat can play a huge contributing factor to a lot of our incidents, especially our cardiac events or respiratory issues,” Rodriguez said.

It’s also recommended to wear a hat and light clothing, drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen to avoid sunburn.

Columbia resident and mom Brandi Elmahdawi suggested ways she got creative to keep her children hydrated.

“Fruit is great and popsicles, I also do popsicles to keep cool,” Elmahdawi said.

Young child Londyn Millergave gave other options to stay cool.

“Probably go to the waterpark and get in the water, and drink slushies,” Millergrave said.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Sturgeon man has been sentenced to probation after he was charged with six felonies in two cases.

Jadon Gooldy, 20, was charged with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action, along with one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault after he shot a gun and the shrapnel scratched a person in the leg.

Court records show Gooldy pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement on Monday. As part of the agreement, prosecutors amended the charges of first-degree assault to second-degree assault and dropped the two counts of armed criminal action.

Gooldy admitted to firing a shot near a person’s head. Shrapnel from the bullet ricocheted and hit another person in the leg, leaving a red mark, court documents state. Police said a crowd was gathered in the parking lot for an underground racing event.

He was sentenced to five years of supervised probation and required to give up his gun. He was also sentenced to 70 days in jail with credit for time served.

Gooldy also pleaded guilty in a second case where he was charged with unlawful use of a weapon – exhibiting, armed criminal action and a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault. He pulled out a gun during a road rage incident on April 11, according to the probable cause statement

The count of armed criminal action was dropped as part of the plea agreement, according to records. He was sentenced to five years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to serve 15 days at the Boone County jail with credit for time served.

Jail records show he was being held in the Boone County Jail as of Tuesday at 1 p.m. on a parole violation for a 2024 case where he kicked a police officer’s door causing damage. A hearing was set for Tuesday afternoon.

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