Another man pleads guilty to murder in 2023 Dove Drive shooting

KMIZ on April 11, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Editor’s Note: The charges the defendant pleaded guilty to have been corrected.

A Columbia man accused in the fatal shooting of a man in June 2023 on Dove Drive has pleaded guilty to a lesser murder charge.

Deazes Turner, 22, appeared in court via Zoom from the Cooper County Jail and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Thursday. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison. He was previously charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

Updated court documents say Turner, Deljuan Turner and Alqueze Jones shot and killed Deshon Houston, 33, on June 26, 2023, from a white 2017 Ford Explorer driven by Ja’Shaun Barney; while Bryton Allen also shot at Houston from an Acura MDX driven by Damarkus Williams. Court documents filed on Wednesday say a second man was also shot on that day.

Investigators linked seven suspects to the shooting through witness descriptions of two vehicles and data from a stolen SUV that crashed while fleeing the scene. Both sides had more than 100 witnesses ready to go for this case if it went to trial.

On June 26, 2023, police found Houston shot in the head outside a home in the 3200 block of Dove Drive. Witnesses reported seeing the gunmen firing at Houston and another man through the sunroof of one of the vehicles. 

Officers later found a crashed Ford Explorer with bullet holes but couldn’t find those inside. Deazes Turner, Deljuan Turner and Jones were later found in Oklahoma and arrested June 2024. 

Several men have taken plea deals in the shooting. Deljuan Turner pleaded guilty in November to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Jones, 21, pleaded guilty that same month to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Allen, 22, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to 20 years. He was also sentenced to four years in prison in an unrelated case where he pleaded guilty to resisting arrest in 2021.

Barney, 20, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and has a hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 5.

Williams, 20, is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held at the Boone County Jail and has a hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 28.

Jajuan Crockett, 23, is charged with first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, accessory to stealing, stealing more than $750 and tampering with evidence. A jury trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 10. He is being held in the Missouri Department of Corrections and is serving a six-year sentence in an unrelated case.

All of the men accused were previously charged with first-degree murder.

Boy dies in Lafayette County explosion

KMIZ on April 11, 2025

ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A young boy is dead, while a man and a girl are in critical condition after a gas explosion damaged multiple homes in Lexington, Missouri, according to a report from KMBC.

Authorities say a subcontractor working on a fiber optic line accidentally hit a gas main last night.

The explosion happened when a man inside the home and lit a cigarette, which ignited the gas. The family of the man inside the home says he flipped a light switch, which caused the explosion. The cause is under investigation.

Three people were inside the home at the time. A man suffered intense burns and was airlifted to a Kansas City hospital, where he is now on a ventilator.

The man’s son died in the explosion, and his daughter was brought to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and is also on a ventilator.

Man detained after hours-long standoff in West Columbia

KMIZ on April 11, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was arrested following a more-than-10-hour standoff Friday at an apartment complex in West Columbia.

A standoff occurred as Ash Street Place Apartments, with its entrance just west of Stadium Boulevard, following a “weapons incident” around 8:30 a.m. Police said at 12:48 p.m. that a man had threatened people with a weapon before going inside his residence.

Columbia Police Department spokesman Brian McNeill said at the scene around 7 p.m. that a man was in custody and taken to an area hospital for a precautionary screening. Only one person was involved.

Police later identified the man in a Friday evening press release as Michael Whited, 59, of Columbia. He was arrested on suspicion of two counts of fourth-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Whited did not appear on the Boone County Jail’s online roster on Friday night. Charges have yet to appear on Casenet.

Several loud pops coming from gas canisters occurred shortly after 5 p.m. CPD Assistant Chief Paul Dickinson clarified to ABC 17 News around 5:50 p.m. that gas cans were deployed.

Smoke was seen in an area near the apartment at 5:23 p.m. and a drone was used around 5:30 p.m. More than 10 Columbia police officers were on the scene, along with officers with sniper rifles and an armored vehicle.

A K-9 was also on the scene and police were seen wearing gas masks throughout the later half of the standoff.

Crime scene tape went up about 12:10 p.m. Friday.

Parent whose child is enrolled at a nearby daycare, KinderCare, told ABC 17 News that she was not able to pick up her child on Friday afternoon as the daycare was on lockdown. ABC 17 News reached out to the daycare, but has not yet heard back.

A neighbor told an ABC 17 News reporter that police are regularly seen in the complex for fire alarms, but indicated Friday afternoon’s response was much larger than usual.

This is a developing story.

Kehoe seeks damage assessment for federal disaster declaration for storms that hit Pilot Grove, rest of state at beginning of month

KMIZ on April 11, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

For the second time in roughly a month, Gov. Mike Kehoe has requested FEMA to participate in joint preliminary damage assessments for counties that were damaged by storms and flooding, according to a Friday afternoon press release from the governor’s office.

An EF-2 tornado ravaged Pilot Grove in Cooper County on April 2, but storms and flooding impacted several counties days before and after.

“Missouri has again been battered by severe storms and significant flooding, causing widespread destruction and disrupting the lives of many families and businesses across the state,” Kehoe was quoted in the release. “The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and local emergency management officials have been working tirelessly to assess impacts, and we believe the extent of the damage clearly meets the threshold for FEMA to again participate in joint damage assessments.”

The joint preliminary assessment was requested for Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Cooper, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Iron Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Vernon, Washington and Wayne counties.

Assessments will begin on Tuesday, April 15, the release says. Teams will survey and verify documented damage to determine if individual assistance can be requested through FEMA.

Kehoe previously made the same request for storms that impacted Missouri on March 14 and 15.

No charges filed in August overdose death at Boone County Jail

KMIZ on April 11, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No criminal charges will be filed in an August 2024 overdose death that occurred at the Boone County Jail.

William Gipson, 43, of Ashland, died in custody at the Boone County Jail. The Boone County Medical Examiner determined that his death was the result of an accidental methamphetamine overdose.

Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Roger Johnson wrote in a letter “The actions of the deputies, officers, and jail staff involved were lawful,” based on a review from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which included photographs, videos and the examiner’s report.

“As the involved personnel acted within the bounds of the law and the cause of death was unrelated to any criminal conduct by those individuals, no further legal action will be taken,” the letter says.

The examiner’s report in previous reporting stated that a peak blood concentration of meth of 20 ng/mL was reported after 2.5 hours after taking 12.5 mg orally. Gipson’s blood had 3700 ng/mL, 125 times that amount.

The autopsy report stated Gipson had several blunt-force injuries including small cuts on his left cheek, upper back, right wrist and left leg. He also had a fracture due to resuscitative attempts, according to the report. There were also defibrillator electrodes on his chest at the time of the exam.

River Region Credit Union, Missouri Credit Union legally merge

KMIZ on April 11, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Credit Union has legally merged with the River Region Credit Union, according a post on the Missouri Credit Union’s website.

“Now that we’re legally merged, the work to combine our systems and services takes center stage. This marks an exciting time for us to make good on our promise of increased access and benefits,” Rick Nichols, president and CEO of the combined union was quoted on the website.

The National Credit Union Association approved a merger between the two credit unions in February, which had to be approved by members.

Missouri Credit Union’s website states that a new name for the merged credit union will be decided in the summer and will officially change on Nov. 1.

The combined credit union looks to be fully operational by November.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are Interstate 70 improvements worth the traffic headaches?

KMIZ on April 11, 2025

Matthew Sanders

The Improve I-70 Project, which will make Interstate 70 at least three lanes statewide, is in full swing.

A lot of that work has been taking place in Mid-Missouri, where the existing road is being widened from two lanes to three. Part of that project is eliminating the exit ramp onto Business Loop 70 from westbound I-70.

The ramp has been closed for some time now. But this weekend, crews will remove it. Since the ramp crosses over the eastbound side of the interstate, that’s where the worst traffic impacts will be.

This is merely one of scores of traffic headaches Mid-Missouri drivers will deal with during the long project. But for many, the results will be worth it.

Are you one of them? Let us know by voting in the poll.

Columbia man accused of contacting New Jersey youth to obtain child porn

KMIZ on February 5, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police arrested a man on Friday who is accused of posing as a youth to get child pornography from underage victims, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a press release.

Steven Greathouse, 30, was charged on Friday in Boone County with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, first-degree promoting child pornography and possessing child porn. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

The release says that CPD received a tip from New Jersey State Police about Greathouse allegedly communicating with youth in New Jersey.

The probable cause statement says New Jersey law enforcement had been investigating the situation since November. Greathouse supposedly portrayed himself as a 14-year-old to get photos from a 12-year-old girl.

New Jersey law enforcement found the accounts associated in the social media conversations belonged to Greathouse, the statement says.

Columbia police conducted a traffic stop on Greathouse’s vehicle near the intersection of West Vawter School Road and South Scott Boulevard. He was the only person in the vehicle, the statement says.

Police searched his phone and allegedly found explicit conversations on the social media application SnapChat, in addition to photos and videos, the statement says.

Humane Society employee saved after getting trapped in tipped trailer

KMIZ on February 5, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Central Missouri Humane Society employee had to be saved by firefighters after they became trapped in a food storage trailer that tipped over on Friday morning.

CMHS wrote in a press release that hundreds of pounds of food fell around the employee. No injuries were reported and firefighters were able to pull the woman free.

“This was a very scary situation. We are just grateful that no one was hurt,” CMHS Executive Director Julie Aber said in the release. “The reality is our shelter has been degrading for years. It’s not safe for our animals, our staff, or members of the public. We have to raise the funds for a new facility, and we have to do it now.”

Jefferson City man charged with having child porn

KMIZ on February 5, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man was charged on Friday with possessing child pornography in Cole County.

Nathan Kent, 31, is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

The probable cause statement says law enforcement received report in May 2024 of someone storing child pornography to an online platform. The report included an email address and IP address that were located in Jefferson City, court documents say.  

Law enforcement received more data on Dec. 30 from a search warrant, which allegedly showed and child porn files were sent from the user to another person in April, the statement says. One of the accounts had a photo of Kent, the statement says.

A search warrant was executed at Kent’s residence on Thursday. Kent was found after trying to grab a gun while resisting arrest, court documents say.

Kent allegedly referred to himself as a “monster,” after he was detained, the statement says. Court documents say that police saw messaging that showed Kent sending child porn to other users and discussing about wanting to sexually assault a toddler, the statement says.