Prosecutor: Florida man now charged with murder in homecoming shooting that killed college student
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone County’s top prosecutor says a Florida man has now been charged with murder in the death of a Stephens College student.
Misael Covarrubias, 23, will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Aiyanna Williams. He is also charged with three counts of armed criminal action, two counts of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
Covarrubias was charged on Monday with three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action and a single count of unlawful use of a weapon. Covarrubias allegedly told police that he is from Florida but had been living in Columbia for about five months, court documents in previous reporting say.
Covarrubias is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 and a preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.
He is accused of firing 11 shots at 1:42 a.m. Saturday on East Broadway between Eighth and Ninth streets in downtown Columbia. He allegedly hit three people with bullets, including Williams. Williams was pronounced dead on Sunday.
Police initially said Covarrubias was involved in an argument and began firing, though none of the people hit by gunfire were involved in the exchange.
Court documents in previous reporting say Covarrubias reportedly told officers that people ganged up on him, causing him to fire warning shots. Covarrubias initially said the warning shots were fired at the ground, but later admitted to firing with his arm straight out, the statement says.
He then allegedly told officers that he did not know who he was shooting at, and also admitted to consuming alcohol prior, the probable cause statement says.
The shooting prompted University of Missouri System President Mun Choi to call for action to reduce crime in Columbia and Mayor Barbara Buffaloe to call for a special task force.