Friends, businesses honor Bailey Scott after deadly weekend shooting in Moberly
Mitchell Kaminski
MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)
On Monday, friends of Bailey Scott first saw a Facebook post from Moberly police about a shooting in the 900 block of East Logan Street.
Later that day, they learned the 23-year-old was the victim of the deadly shooting.
“I never thought in a million years it would ever be someone so close to our hearts. That is such an outgoing person who would cause no harm to a fly,” BriAnna Nickerson, who had been friends with Scott for two years, said. “She was a social butterfly. She always made you feel welcome no matter if she knew or not.”
Friends describe Scott as kind, passionate, social and always carrying a big smile on her face.
Scott moved to Moberly from the West Coast in 2019, and in just a few years, she had already left a lasting impact on the small community.
“I was more so just an acquaintance of Bailey. But if that doesn’t go to show you how many lives she touched,” said Kaylee Delaney, who is a waitress at a restaurant Scott and her family regularly attended. “She is just a light to so many lives. She wasn’t even from this community and touched so many different people in the six years that she was here.”
Sabrina Johnson worked with Scott at Ravenwood Terrace, an assisted living community in Moberly. She said Scott often came back to visit, even after she stopped working there.
“It was a great job for her. She was the kindest soul. She took care of everyone, she knew no harm,” Johnson said. “She went back to Ravenwood several times. She just couldn’t leave her people.”
Scott had a young son named Bentley, who Johnson described as “the happiest boy” — always wearing a big smile, just like his mother. Friends say that Bentley was asleep in her home when Scott was shot.
“All you see on her social media and especially, her Snapchat, you know, were coffee dates with her son”, Delaney said.
Scott and her son were regulars at Scooters Coffee, so much so that friends placed a Scooters coffee cup at a memorial outside of her home.
“Her and her son, it was kind of like a morning routine for them. We’ve come to find out and it’s just we’ve been a part of their morning routine,” Moberly Scooters General Manager Corbyn Childs said.
To honor Scott, Scooters will donate 20% of its sales on Friday to Scott’s family. After announcing the fundraiser, Childs called the social media response to the fundraiser overwhelming.
“Our owner found out about the loss that our town has suffered, and he just wants to be able to give back the best way that he can,” Childs said. “We come from a very small, tight group community and this is a tragic loss and the town is really coming together and it’s something to be proud to be a part of.”
Scooter’s isn’t the only Moberly business rallying around Scott. The Boozy Badger Bar is organizing a balloon release in her honor outside the bar at 7 p.m. Friday. Following the event, 30% of all bar sales will be donated to help cover funeral expenses.
Scott’s friends are also hosting a remembrance walk at 7 p.m. Sunday, beginning at the Auto Zone parking lot on Morley Street. Attendees are encouraged to wear purple, which was one of her favorite colors. Her friends will also be accepting donations for Scott’s family.
“This isn’t going to be a one-time thing,” Johnson said. “We would love to see more faces each and every time. We welcome everyone with open arms just like she does.”
“Justice will prevail,” Delaney added. “She was an amazing person. Her character speaks for itself.”
Several Moberly residents have openly discussed the name of a possible suspect in Scott’s shooting. ABC 17 News attempted to confirm the name with the Missouri State Highway Patrol — which is handling the investigation — but was told the patrol cannot release that information at this time.
“As with many cases, to maintain the integrity of the investigation, I am unable to confirm the identity of the shooter,” Sgt. Bradley Germann told ABC 17 News in an email. “Division of Drug and Crime Control investigators are actively following up on several leads in the case. Investigators will conduct a thorough and exhaustive investigation regarding this incident. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be forwarded to the Randolph County Prosecutor’s Office for review and determination of formal charges are filed.”