Category: kmiz-local-news

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of a 23-year-old woman told police he fired in self-defense.

Whether the legal system agrees could depend on whether and how David K. Heyde, 68, invokes the state’s self-defense laws.

Heyde, 68, shot and killed Bailey Scott on July 6. He was charged on Thursday.

Missouri remains one of several states with a “stand your ground” law, which removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense. It’s unclear whether the law will play a role in Heyde’s case.

“Stand your ground is simply self-defense expect you don’t have to retreat,” Former prosecutor Bill Tackett said.

The law, enacted in 2017, allows a person to use deadly force if they reasonably believe their life is in danger, without needing to retreat. Deadly force is also permitted if a person believes they’re at risk of serious crimes such as murder, robbery, burglary, kidnapping or forcible sexual offenses.

“Any crime really, any confrontation that you you have the ability to retreat, under self-defense you have to do that, stand your ground says what it says you don’t have to retreat,” Tackett said.

However, the belief that a person was in danger must be held up in court.

“Would a normal person believe that they were in imminent threat of lethal force, if someones pointing a gun at you, if someones pulled a knife on you, but in this case you just don’t have that,” Tackett added.

Missouri also has a version of the “castle doctrine,” which allows people to use deadly force to protect themselves against intruders. The law extends protections to individuals who feel threatened in their home, vehicle, on private property or any place where they have a legal right to be.

Stand Your Ground is fairly similar to self-defense but has one key difference.

“Self-defense requires lethal threat and it has to be reasonable and you have to have no way to retreat,” Tackett added.

PC DAVID KIP HEYDEDownload

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Missouri is one of 28 states that have laws removing the duty to retreat before using force in self-defense. Puerto Rico also has this law.

A 2022 peer-reviewed study found that stand-your-ground laws are linked to increased homicide rates, amounting to hundreds of additional deaths per year. Researchers found the laws were associated with an 8% to 11% national increase in monthly rates of homicide and firearm-related homicide.

According to court documents, Heyde told investigators that Bailey Scott approached his home to confront him about feeding birds. Heyde said he answered the door with a gun in one hand, claiming he did not know the woman at the door.

He allegedly told police he asked Scott to leave and that she hit him in the face with her right hand. However, investigators noted they found no visible bruising or swelling on Heyde’s face.

Heyde told police he was “stunned” and reacted by firing two shots, ultimately shooting and killing Scott, according to the documents.

While there are laws in place, Tackett says choosing to retreat when possible is always the best option.

“When would you not retreat, if you had the ability to retreat that saves everybody’s lives, it saves everybody from being injured, it just strikes me as something you would do,” Tackett said.

Heyde’s first court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon in Randolph County.

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Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group made up of over 20 sheriffs from across the state, calling itself the Missouri Sheriffs’ Constitutional Firearms Alliance, introduced itself at a news conference Monday at the Missouri Capitol.

The group says it is focused on promoting gun safety and defending the Second Amendment.

“By creating the MSCFA, the state’s sheriffs are sending a clear message: the Constitutionis not negotiable,” MSCFA president and Douglass County Sheriff Chris Degase said in the press release.

According to the MSCFA’s website, the alliance’s mission is to “foster a culture of responsible gun ownership and constitutional literacy, ensuring Missourians can exercise their rights safely and responsibly.”

The MSCFA says it plans to be a resource for firearm safety and storage and to work with local sheriff’s offices and community groups to host safety training events. The group also plans to push against policies that infringe on the Second Amendment while also supporting gun safety legislation.

“We see it on the news every day, where people’s rights are taken from them, they try to unjustifiably seize firearms, they try to pass laws that restrict us,” MSCFA President Sheriff Chris Degase of Douglas County said. Degase confirmed that federal actions were an aspect of the group’s formation when asked.

“Our goal is to ensure laws respect responsible gun owners while targeting those who misuse firearms,” the MSCFA website says.

Press Release July 11 2025Download

Jenessa Keller, a gun owner and volunteer with the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action, praised the group’s commitment to gun safety.

“It’s clear that promoting responsible gun ownership and community safety go hand in hand to ensure our communities are safe from gun violence,” Keller said in a statement. “We welcome any opportunity to work with law enforcement leaders to protect Missouri families from gun violence.”

Osage County Sheriff Michael Bonham also said in a statement his office would be open to exploring firearm safety and awareness opportunities with the MSCFA.

“I fully support efforts that promote responsible firearm ownership and protect the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, especially our Second Amendment rights,” Bonham said.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 22-year-old man was charged after a deadly crash in Mexico on Saturday morning.

Prosecutors have charged Joshua Frye, 22, of Mexico with DWI resulting in the death of two or more.

Court documents state police officers responded to the crash on Saturday at 6:39 a.m. in the 4800 block of South Clark Street. At the scene, officers found two cars with damage, a 2016 Kia Soul and a 2012 Chrysler.

Police said other emergency crews on the scene said Frye smelled of alcohol and that he allegedly told crews he was drinking before the crash.

Police identified the victims as Kristain Pritchett, 22, and Austin Terry, 27, both in the same car as Frye. Court documents state Pritchett was in the front passenger seat while Terry was in the cargo unit of the car. Mexico Public Safety said to ABC 17 News in an email that the cargo area referenced was the area behind the back seat of the Kia Soul.

According to court documents, police said from witness statements and physical evidence, investigators think Frye was traveling southbound on Clark when the car lost control on a slight curve and slid into the path of Elliot Kitson, 29, in the northbound lane.

Police also said “numerous” alcoholic beverage containers were found in the Kia.

Frye was taken to University Hospital, where he had surgery for his injuries.

Kitson was also taken to University Hospital with serious injuries. He was reported on Saturday to be in fair condition.

Prosecutors are asking for Frye to be held without bond.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The man accused of shooting a 23-year-old woman is set to make his first court appearance in the Randolph County Courthouse Monday afternoon.

Prosecutors charged David Kip Heyde, 68, with second-degree murder on Thursday after allegedly shooting Bailey Scott on July 6.

Court documents state that Moberly Police received a report of shots fired around 7:30 p.m. in the 900 block of East Logan Street on Sunday from Heyde.

Investigators said in court documents that Heyde told police he saw an unknown woman walking on the street a few hours before the shooting. He told troopers he saw her approach his house, but left. She later returned, Heyde allegedly told troopers, and he went to the porch with a .32-caliber Kel Tec handgun behind his back.

Heyde said he walked out the door and spoke with the woman, later identified by first responders as Scott, and described her as agitated and talking about him feeding and trying to kill birds outside his home, the probable cause statement says. Court documents state he told the investigators that he told her to leave and used his other hand without the gun to gesture for her to leave.

Heyde allegedly told troopers that Scott slapped him on the left side of his face and that he reacted by firing his gun twice at her. Investigators wrote that they did not see any marks of bruising or swelling on his face where he said he was hit. Scott did not have any signs of trauma or injury to her hands.

Heyde will be in the Randolph County courtroom at 1:30 p.m. Monday in front of Judge Garreth Cooksey.

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Matthew Sanders

President Donald Trump brought out his favorite economic policy tool again over the weekend.

Trump said he is imposing tariffs of 30% on Mexico and the European Union. They’re the latest two countries to get notice of tariffs that are set to start Aug. 1 — Trump sent out several letters to countries last week about his latest round.

Some have called Trump’s use of tariffs, and the threat of them, policy chaos. Others say he’s deftly using a policy tool to get better deals for the United States.

What do you think? Do you trust Trump on tariffs? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Keriana Gamboa

Morberly, Mo. (KMIZ)

Editor’s Note: The last name of the victim on first reference has been corrected.

Sunday evening, members of the Moberly community met for the ‘Justice for Bailey walk’ movement.

People gathered in purple clothing and shirts in remembrance of 23-year-old Bailey Scott, who was shot and killed last Sunday.

The walk began shortly after 7:20 p.m., and at exactly 7:28 p.m., the time organizers say Scott lost her life, participants paused for a moment of silence in her honor.

Brianna Nickerson and Sabrina Johnson, organizers of the walk who were friends of Scott’s, told ABC 17 News they are using their voices to raise awareness about the dangers of gun violence and the importance of taking community concerns seriously.

“We just want to continue to show the love and light that Bailey brought into our lives.  And we’ll never stop until she does get justice. And even after that will continue because she deserves the world. And sadly, she was taken from it,” Nickerson said.

They say Bailey’s death could have been prevented if those warnings had been acted on, and shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

“It shouldn’t have happened. There was the man who did this. He had a known history of violence. He had a known history of hurting animals and threatening to hurt people and hurting people,” Johnson said. “The other message we’re trying to send is to take people more seriously. Community members had warned about him in the past, and it wasn’t taken seriously.”

The man charged in connection with the death of Bailey Scott is scheduled to make his first court appearance tomorrow.

David Kip Heyde, 68, was charged with second-degree murder on Thursday. According to police, Heyde allegedly shot and killed Scott outside his home.

Court documents state the incident began when Scott approached Heyde at his residence, reportedly upset about him putting bird food in the road and possibly trying to harm birds.

Heyde told authorities he was holding a gun because he did not recognize the woman at his door. He claimed that he told Scott to leave and alleged that she struck him before he fired two shots.

The arraignment is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Randolph County Courthouse.

The walk was not only a movement for justice it also served as a fundraiser to support Bailey Johnson’s family with funeral expenses.

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Olivia Hayes

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop F responded to a boat fire Sunday afternoon at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Sgt. Kyle Green with the highway patrol tells ABC 17 News troopers were called around 2:20 in the afternoon to a boat fire at the 10 mile marker of the main channel on the Lake of the Ozark.

Green said the boat had one person on it and that the person was able to climb off the boat to safety.

The boat became fully submerged. Sgt. Green said Lake Tow is handling the towing and removal of the boat.

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Olivia Hayes

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Severe weather and flooding forced Missouri Task Force One to suspend search operations along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas on Sunday, according to the latest update from the Boone County Fire Protection District.

BCFPD said the team returned to its base of operations where members reconfigured equipment and were reassigned as a quick response force in anticipation of additional water rescue needs, should flooding intensify further.

During the weather delay, task force one personnel conducted essential maintenance and cleaning of equipment used during Saturday’s operations.

The team anticipates returning to the field Monday to continue their mission of search and recovery. A 60-member rescue task force from the Czech Republic, will join their operations along the river.

The combined teams will continue search missions utilizing boats, specially trained canines, and local volunteers operating heavy equipment to clear and search through large debris fields.

While Sunday’s storms caused a rise in water levels, Boone County fire officials said the rain has calmed, and waters are beginning to recede.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Fire Department battled an early morning fire Sunday, according to a press release from the department.

According to the release, crews responded to a call for a residential structure fire at around 12:41 a.m. Sunday on the 800 block of Weathered Rock Road.

Firefighters found fire showing from a second-floor window and focused on an interior attack of the fire, getting it under control in 30 minutes. There was significant fire and smoke damage to one apartment, and water damage to the first-floor apartment beneath the fire.

Cole County EMS, the Cole County Fire Protection District and the Jefferson City Police Department were also on scene.

No one was injured in the fire, but two families were displaced. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Olivia Hayes

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people are dead and two others hurt after a crash in Mexico Saturday, according to the Mexico Public Safety Department.

MPSD said shortly after 6:30 Saturday morning it responded to a crash on the 4800 block of South Clark street near Highway 54. The report said responding personnel found that a blue, 2016 Kia was being driven southbound on Clark when it crossed the center line and collided with a black 2012 Chrysler in the northbound lane.

MPSD said it used extrication equipment and assisted the Audrain Ambulance District in removing people from the vehicles and treating them.

Kristain Pritchett, age 22, and Austin Terry, age 27 died as a result of the crash.

Joshua Frye, age 22, and Elliot Kitson, age 29, were both taken by ambulance to MU Hospital in Columbia.

Hospital officials confirmed to ABC 17 News that Elliott Kitson is in fair condition. However, they had no information to provide regarding the condition of Joshua Frye.

The 4800 block of South Clark was blocked until almost 8:00 Saturday morning.

A witness who was there during the time of the crash, Jerry Wide, said he was driving to work when he saw it happen right in front of him.

“The black car in front of me. The blue car turned right in front of them and he had no time to react and he hit him head on right into the side. I ran to the black car because he was the closest to me,” Wide said.

He told ABC 17 News that he was following the black Chrysler at a distance of approximately two car lengths.

“He was probably doing 50 miles an hour, I was right behind him doing that too,” Wide said. “When he hit, I had to slam on my brakes or if I wouldn’t have been paying attention, I would have been involved in the accident myself.”

Friends of Kristain Pritchett are demanding justice following her death, Stella Williams describing her as an outstanding person in a statement to ABC 17 News. They urged authorities to hold those responsible accountable.

“The driver needs to be held responsible when he’s released from the hospital. He took someone’s daughter, granddaughter, cousin, best friend, and he was supposed to be the one to protect her as her boyfriend,” said Williams.

The crash is still under investigation.

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