Author: KMIZ

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Violent juvenile crime is rising, according to data from the state and the Greene County chief juvenile officer Bill Prince. The ABC 17 News team took a look at the data following a Wednesday night shooting in Columbia.

Data from the Robert L. Perry Juvenile Justice Center shows that the number of juveniles admitted is lower in 2024 than it was in 2023. Here’s a breakdown of people in the center during a five-year period of available data:

2024: 143

2023: 161

2022: 112

2021: 114

2020: 112

The 2024 data is the newest, with 2025 data expected to come out this year.

The top crime for juveniles in 2024 was weapons offenses, which 31% of juveniles committed, and is followed by “felony persons,” which makes up 28% of offenses.

Prince, who is also the president of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association, said a report he read showed the number of violent crimes youth are committing is rising, but overall juvenile crime is down.

“The juvenile crime that still is existing seems to be more violent, you know, more homicides, more serious assaults and things of that nature,” Prince said.

He said one potential cause is juveniles’ access to guns.

“It’s the easy access to firearms by these kids; they all have guns. In the old days, kids got into a beef with each other, they’d have fist fights and those sorts of things, and people tend to recover from fist fights better than they do from gunshots,” Prince said.

Prince said the other side of this is the youth’s willingness to use guns.

“The average person’s brain doesn’t get hardwired until we’re about 25 years old,” Prince said. “We’re dealing with these kids whose brains are still developing, who act on impulse mode, and that combined with the gun, it just never adds up for some people.”

When juveniles are involved in violent crimes, like murder, they are certified as adults in court.

The Boone County prosecutor said over email that he’s seen an uptick in these certifications over the years.

Policy manager at Empower Missouri, Gwen Smith-Moore, said she and her team talk with the attorneys and people who are directly involved with certifying juveniles.

“There has been a general increase across the board in the number of certifications happening annually,” Smith-Moore said. “I don’t think that a rise in youth crime is necessarily the reason for that.”

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

City leaders met Thursday with the City of Columbia Office of Violence Prevention to discuss how the city plans to address violence and reduce crime.

The meeting wrapped up around 4 p.m. at City Hall. Media were not allowed inside the meeting, but attendees later shared details about what was discussed.

Thursday’s workshop brought together stakeholders from across Columbia to evaluate current violence reduction efforts, create shared definitions for community violence intervention and identify strengths and areas where the city’s violence prevention work could improve.

According to those who attended, the meeting was highly interactive. Participants moved around the room, wrote ideas on posters, and shared their thoughts with others during group discussions.

Office of Violence Prevention Administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown said the meeting served as an introduction for organizations working to address violence in the community.

“[Today] entailed a lot of the community based organizations who were boots on the ground and in the fray of intervention and prevention, “Thomas-Brown said. ” [We] talked about what we do and to display a baseline for the landscape so we can identify gaps, we can identify who’s actually doing, community violence intervention, who’s doing prevention and we can also identify deserts and services that are not actually available to those most a risk.”

ABC 17 News spoke with John Scalise, president of Job Point; Ronald Brown, a street outreach worker with a community-based program; Connor McGowan with the Office of Violence Prevention; and Marcus Richardson, president of the Columbia chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

“A lot of it was discussed was what the challenges are that we face as a community. I think a lot of them are obvious. But the solution some of the things that we can do, how we can coordinate to get those things in place,” Scalise said.

Richardson said he thought Thursday’s meeting was informative.

“Very helpful. Very meaningful. We needed this so all of us could be together in the room to better asses our ecosystem on how we can make it better, where can improve, and what we can do to prevent things from happening in the future,” Richardson said.

The workshop explored how the Office of Violence Prevention can serve as a coordinating hub for community violence intervention efforts, helping public agencies and community partners better support people who may be at the highest risk of violence.

The group also briefly discussed a gun violence program analysis being conducted by the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. The study is working alongside the Columbia Police Department and is expected to help guide future strategies to reduce violence in the city.

According to a press release sent by the city after the event, insights gathered during the meeting will help inform a Violence Reduction Landscape Analysis Report that NICJR plans to deliver to the city in the coming months. Thomas-Brown said possible outcomes from the study were mentioned during the meeting, but specific details were not discussed.

“We’re just getting into our third month and there’s been already a handful of violence and gun violence” McGowan said. “So I would say definitely it’s very at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now,”  

According to a violent crime report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there have been 62 violent crimes reported in the city so far this year.

Thomas-Brown addressed several violent incidents that have already occurred this year, stating he is beginning to notice a pattern.

“But we have to look at the types of what these homicides have been,” Thomas-Brown said. “They’ve not been just random, run-of-the-mill beef on one side or the other. These have been interpersonal. These have been friends.”

Thomas-Brown said addressing violence also means examining broader issues, including legislation and access to firearms. He added that he believes it is currently too easy for people to access guns.

“I remember growing up, I would have had a dispute with somebody, and if I would have had a gun, I would probably be in the same predicament either in a grave or going to jail,” he said.

Another meeting involving the prevention group is scheduled for August.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged in federal court on Thursday after he was indicted by a grand jury.

Dorian Gardner, 38, is charged with illegally possessing a gun. He has a prior felony conviction and is not allowed to own guns.  He is being held at the Cooper County Jail and still has active charges from the county for first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and child endangerment.

The probable cause statement claims he fired a shot on Nov. 24 at a Boonville intersection. He allegedly told the victim to stop the car they were in, took their cellphone, stepped out of the car and fired a shot straight ahead, with the shell casing of the bullet being found within 100 yards of Laura Speed Elliott Middle School, the statement says.

Police eventually found Gardner and he initially denied being involved in the incident before admitting to having and firing a gun, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Fulton announced on its social media on Thursday that a boil water advisory will be issued for a portion of the city.

The post says water service will be temporarily shut off on Route Z between Bluff and Vine streets because of a water main break.

Affects residences will have notices delivered to them, the post says.

Crews are currently working to make repairs.  

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Josie Anglin

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A reinspection of Copper Kettle in Ashland shows it still has one health-code violation.

The Columbia/Boone County Health Department inspected the restaurant last week and found nine violations, seven of which were critical.

A health inspector went back on Wednesday and found all of the critical violations had been fixed. However, the inspection report shows there is still a non-critical violation. The walk-in cooler, shelves and equipment throughout the building are soiled, according to the report.

Copper Kettle has another inspection scheduled for Wednesday, March 11. It is as risk of having its operating permit suspected if there is still a health code violation.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boonville man is facing federal charges after he was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday.

Johntelle Millens, 40, is charged with illegally possessing a gun and planning to distribute drugs. He is currently being held at the Howard County Jail without bond. He was accused of having the gun and drugs between June 17-July 24, 2025.

Charges are still listed on Casenet out of Howard County for first-degree assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and illegal gun possession.

Court documents in previous reporting claim police found someone with multiple gunshot wounds at the intersection of Main and High streets in Boonville on July 24. A victim and a witness had identified Millens as the shooter.

Witnesses allegedly told police they saw men in two vehicles, including the GMC driven by Millens, parked next to each other near Port Authority on Highway 40 in Howard County and claimed one of the men had a gun, the statement says.

Troopers found broken glass and spent shell casings in the area that matched the casing found in the victim’s vehicle, court documents say.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 19-year-old felon has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a 20-year-old on Wednesday in central Columbia.

Damarius Kavanaugh, of Columbia, was charged with felony murder, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and tampering with physical evidence after William Riechers of Columbia was found shot dead in the area of Allen and Bryant streets.

A court date has not been scheduled for Kavanaugh. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.

The probable cause statement says officers had fun a .40 caliber gun near Riechers, along with spent shell casings from the same gun and 9 millimeter cartridges. Riechers lived in the 200 block of Lincoln Drive and was allegedly seen on video walking with Kavanaugh before the shooting, the statement says.

A vehicle was allegedly seen on video pulling up to Riechers and Kavanaugh as they approached north on Bryant Street through the intersection with Allen Street before gunshots were heard, the statement says. Police wrote that Kavanaugh was allegedly seen on video with his arm extended at the vehicle before Riechers fell down.

Kavanaugh had allegedly called a family member of Riechers’ using Riechers’ social media to say Riechers had been shot, the statement says. Kavanaugh and two other people later drove to the hospital, the statement indicates.

Kavanaugh allegedly told police that someone in the aforementioned vehicle pulled up to them and rolled down a window, the statement says. Kavanaugh allegedly “gave conflicting statements” about if someone in the vehicle had shot first before saying he didn’t know who shot first between the person in the vehicle or Riechers.

Kavanaugh allegedly told police that his gun jammed after firing, but was eventually able to get two more shots off before throwing it in a nearby wooded area, the statement says. Officers later found the 9 millimeter gun in a bag with a gun magazine.

Kavanaugh just completed a 120-day prison program for unlawful use of a weapon and felony motor vehicle tampering, along with misdemeanor resisting arrest, last month.

Cameron Chase, a close friend of Kavanaugh and Riechers, tells ABC 17 News the three of them were working to leave behind their troubled past.

“Under no circumstances could nobody break any of our relationships between each other,” Chase said. “They were trying to get away from this, the whole thug life that they was in.”

Chase explained Kavanaugh and Riechers had known each other since they were children.

“They were going to the store, next thing you know a car came pulling up in the middle of the street and then it stopped. Someone got out and said something to them with the firearm and proceeded to start shooting,” Chase said.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was accused of shooting someone at a Jefferson City apartment last month is facing additional charges after a grand jury indictment was filed on Tuesday.  

David Jarrett, of Jefferson City, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree assault and resisting arrest. He was previously just charged with unlawful use of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.

An arraignment for the new set of charges is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, March 26. He was released from the Cole County Jail under his own recognizance on Feb. 26.

The probable cause statement says police were called on Feb. 13 to the 900 block of Cedar Way for a report of a shooting. The statement says Jarrett left the area with his 1-year-old child and the gun used in the shooting. Police arrested him on East Elm Street after a short chase. Two rounds were missing from the gun.

Jarrett allegedly went to a neighboring apartment where his mother resided and threatened to hit her after he was upset, the statement says. The victim went over to the apartment and told Jarrett to leave, which he refused the statement says.

Jarrett first allegedly shot at the floor before getting into a fight with the victim and shooting him in his torso, the statement says. The victim had bloodstains, but University Hospital staff determined no vital organs were hit, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Boone County Commission announced in a Wednesday press release that it will discuss amending its senior property tax policy during a Thursday meeting.

The release says the amendment would get rid of the need for seniors to sign up for the tax freeze each year. Applicants who maintain eligibility will be automatically renewed, the release says.

“Removing the annual renewal requirement should make it easier for participants to remain in the program, as well as allow County staff to administer the program more efficiently and cost-effectively,” Boone County Collector Brian McCollum was quoted in the release.

To be eligible, taxpayers must be:

62 years old or older by Jan. 1 of the initial credit year;

An owner of record of their primary residence or has a legal or equitable interest in such primary residence as evidenced by a written instrument; and

Liable for the payment of real property taxes on the homestead.

To maintain eligibility, seniors must continue to reside in the home they claim as their primary residence, the release says. If that person moves or buys a different home, they will have the opportunity to enroll again.

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Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday questioned whether the state’s commercial driver licensing standards adequately protect public safety following a high-profile wrong-way semi-truck incident in Lincoln County.

The House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs held a public hearing on House Bill 3491, sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew (R-Crocker). 

The proposal would modify commercial driver’s license requirements for certain foreign applicants by reinforcing English-proficiency standards and tightening eligibility rules, including foreign nationals. The bill also increases penalties tied to serious violations by fining not only for drivers who commit certain offenses, but also for the motor carriers that employ or contract with them. 

The hearing follows a February incident in which a semi-truck driver licensed in Minnesota was recorded driving miles in the wrong direction on Highway 61 near Troy before crossing the median and correcting course. The Missouri State Highway Patrol later reported the driver held a valid commercial license, but failed an English proficiency and road-sign recognition test during a roadside inspection.

The issue gained national attention after a video of the incident was shared on social media by U.S Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. 

Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood, who testified in support of the bill, described the stretch of Highway 61 where the Missouri incident occurred as particularly hazardous.

“This driver was operating on a part of [Highway] 61, which inherently is already one of the most-dangerous highways in the state of Missouri. But there are portions of it when you’re north of [Highway] 47 that have blind hills, there’s a tremendous amount of traffic that continues through that corridor. And the driver in this instance exercised no mitigating circumstances whatsoever,” Wood said.

However, according to Wood, under the current law, prosecutors have limited options.

“The only things available to us at that time would have been driving on the wrong side of the road and a careless and imprudent charge, which we charged. Both of those are Class B misdemeanors that only have up to a six months time in the county jail,” Wood said.

Wood added that tracking drivers without reliable identifying information can be difficult. 

“The problem we have moving forward is that we requested the court issue and no bond warrant simply for the fact that the driving behavior alone was egregious and supremely dangerous. However, whether or not this person is ever found or tracked down is a long shot simply for the fact that without a Social Security number, we don’t have any way to track who that person is, and we don’t have any or any assurances that they won’t simply change their name and apply for another CDL like this,” Wood explained

Mayhew told lawmakers the bill would mirror existing federal requirements, including English reading-and-writing standards for CDL holders, while increasing penalties for violations.

“The truck suffered very little damage. My constituent’s vehicle was totaled. All the occupants were injured,” Mayhew said during the hearing. “What we do here is we make sure that not only the operator of the vehicle, but also the motor carrier who owns the vehicle has some responsibility. So not only will the operator receive a fine in Missouri of $1,000, but the operator of the motor carrier will have one of $3,000.” 

Mayhew acknowledged Missouri cannot control how other states issue licenses, but argued lawmakers can set conditions for drivers operating within Missouri. Mayhew said the proposal responds to real-world safety concerns, pointing to a fatal crash in Florida involving a driver who made an illegal U-turn on an interstate.

During the hearing, some lawmakers questioned whether the bill would meaningfully address the issue. Mayhew admitted enforcement would largely depend on traffic stops and setting up checkpoints at state lines would be impractical. 

Others suggested the legislation was reactionary and asked whether it would prevent similar incidents in the future.

Lincoln County Sheriff Rick Harrell, who also testified in support of the bill, believes the proposal would help address a gap in the system that needs to be closed. 

“Without the enforcement arm, certainly there’s no reason to expect compliance with a certain percentage of the community,” Harrell said. “If we can’t effectively address the problem without an ability to enforce the law, then we need to close those gaps in the system.”

Tom Crawford, of the Missouri Trucking Association, said the wrong-way video was alarming but cautioned lawmakers to consider the industry’s diversity.

“We all saw that video, it’s horrific. Thank God there wasn’t another car popping over the hill. But one of the beauties of the industry that I represent is the diversity of that industry. That’s also one of the challenges of the industry that I represent. We do have a lot of folks, a lot of size of carriers, a lot of different scales, and a lot of cultures that work within our industry,” Crawford said.

The committee did not vote on the bill on Wednesday.

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