No suspects in custody after shooting in Downtown Columbia Sunday morning
Erika McGuire
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
No one is in custody Monday morning after a man was injured Sunday morning in a shooting in Downtown Columbia.
Columbia Police Department spokesperson Brian McNeill wrote in a Monday morning in an email there is no additional information at this time.
Officers responded to the shooting around 1:48 a.m. on East Walnut Street.
Lt. Derek Moore said at the scene the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening and he did not go to the hospital.
Elizabeth Lippelman is a bartender at two bars near where the shooting happened and says she heard dozens of shots fired.
“15 at least 15 to 20 were fired and it went on for 30 minutes or so,” Lippleman said.
Working in the area for a while now, Lippelman said Sunday’s shooting was not the first time she heard gunshots while on the clock and said it’s becoming more concerning.
“Kinda terrifying for people who work down there because we have huge windows in front of our building and you never really know when thats going to happen,” Lippelman said.
ABC 17 News spoke with people in the area who wanted to remain anonymous, but said the man was grazed in the head by the bullet.
Lacondance Houston, who lost her son, Deshon Houston to gun violence in Columbia. She says more needs to be done inside the bars to keep people safe.
“Having more security especially security guards that are working inside the clubs because you know you have people that get out of hand and the police can’t come right away,” Lippelman added.
Lippelman agrees bars should be more proactive, but believes it goes beyond business owners.
“It has more to do with the amount of people getting solely on the street. a foot patrol at night or something of a couple cops to make sure everyone is safe,” Lippleman said. “Stricter curfew laws or stricter open container laws or maybe just more police monitoring at 3 a.m.,”
Houston wants the violence to stop and urging people to think before they act.
“Put the guns down we have all something to live for and I am quite sure y’all have something to live for so put the guns down,” Houston said.
Overall, Lippelman said she would like to see more police in the area when the bars close, stricter curfews and more tickets issued for open intoxication.
“I feel safe coming to work I don’t feel safe leaving majority of the time especially when I have to walk multiple blocks to get to my car at night and there is literal rounds being fired.,” Lippelman said.
An ABC 17 News reporter on scene saw at least 26 evidence markers placed along East Walnut between North Eighth and North Ninth streets—about two blocks from where police were originally called.
At least three vehicles with visible bullet holes were also seen on North Ninth Street.