Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Four people had to be saved during a water rescue Monday afternoon, according to a press release from Cole County Emergency Services.

Two people suffered minor injuries and were brought to an area hospital, according to the release.

The release says that a caller at 3:48 p.m. told dispatchers that a man was clinging to debris in the Osage River and was calling for help. The caller then learned three more people were unaccounted.

The man was rescued and allegedly told dispatchers that the other were upstream, the release says. First responders found the other three people on shore, the release says. About 50 emergency responders were at the scene and left by 5:30 p.m., the release says.

The release did not say what caused the injuries.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council on Monday night voted 5-1 to keep its mission and vision statements intact.

The council decided to keep its vision statement to read “Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play,” and its mission statement to say “To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.”

Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman was the sole “no” vote. The vote also keeps the city’s definition of equity as “We will ensure all residents have fair access to services, opportunities, and resources regardless of their background, neighborhood, income, or identity.”

The council talked about a resolution targeting language surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion – commonly referred to as “DEI” – during a May 5 meeting, but tabled it to Monday. May’s meeting included a two-hour discussion from community members speaking against the proposed change.

DEI has been targeted by conservatives around the country and within the state, with President Donald Trump on Jan. 21 signing an executive order that targets the language used, alleging it promotes discrimination.

A city spokeswoman in May said the city has received $48 million in federal funding since 2020. Last week the city showed a presentation stating the city receives more than $11 million in federal funding for projects. Trump’s order has been interpreted before by the city that it could impact funding to municipalities.

The City Council last month also passed a resolution that aims to shield city staff from lawsuits or claims stemming from their official duties, as long as they act within the scope of their role.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Suspects in Sunday’s fatal shooting in Columbia are still at large as of Tuesday morning, according to the Glasgow Police Chief TJ Livermore.

An ABC 17 News reporter arrived in Glasgow around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and saw a few law enforcement vehicles in the area.

Livermore told ABC 17 News that the three suspects are considered to be armed and dangerous, but could not say if the suspects were still in the area. Livermore says that the community can still resume normal activities, but remain aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activities.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were in a Howard County town Monday evening for a manhunt.

According to Livermore, the Glasgow Police Department was assisted by the Columbia Police Department SWAT, Chariton County Sheriff’s Department, Cooper County Sheriff’s Department, Fayette PD, Howard County, Saline County and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Columbia Police Department Deputy Chief Matt Stephens told ABC 17 News on Monday night that the department is involved in a manhunt for suspects in Sunday’s fatal shooting at a Columbia apartment complex. Stephens said that CPD received a mutual aid call from Glasgow police on Monday night.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw two males detained by law enforcement at 11:05 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Boone and 3rd streets, but they were let go. A four-door sedan was stopped at the intersection. A damaged vehicle was seen at a Casey’s location in town. The reporter saw multiple people run to the vehicle at Casey’s and speed away.

Livermore confirmed that the suspects they are searching for were involved in the incident at the Casey’s location in town, where they stole items. Livermore also confirmed evidence was recovered, but could not specify where.

Kyle Green, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, told ABC 17 News that the patrol is helping the Howard County Sheriff’s Office and Glasgow Police Department with a search.

The City of Glasgow wrote on its social media at 9:34 p.m. that the residents should stay inside their homes.

“GLASGOW: Please remain inside your homes this evening. More details to come later. If you see anything suspicious please call 911 immediately,” the post reads.

Howard County Emergency Services wrote on its social media at 10:47 p.m. that an “incident did occur at the Glasgow Casey’s this evening around approximately 6 p.m.”

Check back for updates. This story is developing.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia leaders are optimistic a new board by the city’s Office of Violence Prevention will help the community crack down on crime.

OVP Administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown said he knew coming into the job that he couldn’t get things done by himself. He’s now taken steps toward creating a violence prevention advisory board that involves several community organizations and leaders.

The board had its first meeting earlier this month, and looks to meet again in July. A specific date for its next meeting has not been set but Thomas-Brown said the meeting is open to all community members.

Thomas Brown said the first meeting was made up of 18 people. Several organizations — including the NAACP, Connections to Success, the Columbia Police Department, the Boone County Community Services Department and the Boone County prosecutor — all came together.

“So, the meeting was great because they were able to say this is what we’re willing to look at and focus on as the Office of Violence Prevention and how can we bring what we have to the table to bolster the strategic plan to bolster the collaborations that we want to see,” Thomas-Brown said.

Thomas-Brown said much of the work the board hopes to achieve is identifying where the gaps are that could be leading to violence in the city, especially with youth.

A youth was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon for a deadly shooting Sunday night. Thomas-Brown said one of the major gaps discussed is interventive work.

“The intervention entities or organizations working directly to with those who are most directly impacted by violence,” Thomas-Brown said. “Who’s working to get resources to curve, to be able to get cognitive, behavioral theories and things worked.”

CPD Deputy Chief Matt Stephens was one of the city’s leaders that plans to continue attending meetings. Stephens said he’s looking forward to having a meeting that allows for multiple perspectives, but all with the same goal in mind.

“You know, for us as a police department, a lot of times people don’t want to talk to the cops,” Stephens said. “So, then when you start working in conjunction with people that they will talk to that aren’t the police but will still talk and you’re working toward that common goal, the only thing you’re doing is you’re running parallels and covering a whole lot of ground that otherwise gets missed.”

Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson said he’s optimistic these meetings can help the city develop a strategy to deal with violent crime. However, he said it’s a long process that will require the work of the entire community.

Johnson also said he thinks this can help the city have a more proactive approach.

“The prosecutor’s office and law enforcement can be the sticky side of things, but D’Markus and his office, I think there’s a lot of opportunity for them to do things that might cut off crime before it happens,” Johnson said.

Pamela Hardin is the president of the Columbia branch of the NAACP. She also plans to attend meetings, and be apart of the board down the road. Hardin said she hopes the board can work to provide alternatives for youth that deters them from engaging in violence.

“We need something to draw young people even here,” Hardin said. “We need water parks. We need some things like ice skating. We need a bigger roller rink. We need hockey. Those are things that people can develop a sport in and use that to further careers.”

Director of the Boone County Community Services Department, Joanne Nelson said her role within the board is to provide information about the services the department offers. The department funds many prevention and intervention services for youth and families, including funding organizations like Destiny of H.O.P.E who work with children.

Nelson said the department is now hoping to start the “Health and Justice Coordinating Council.”

The group would work to discuss issues that impact the City of Columbia. It would include someone from the court system, CPD and the Boone County Jail. Nelson said they’ve also hoping to include the hospital system, including MU and Boone Health.

“Sometimes, we’re all working with the same individual and we don’t know what the other group is doing so if we can get a data system to help us talk to eachother, we will know what’s going on,” Nelson said.

Nelson said she’s hoping to have the first meeting at the beginning of Fall.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A lane shift and sidewalk closure will occur in the month of July on Veterans United Drive in Columbia, according to a press release from the city.

Crews will work on the sidewalk and drive approach at University of Missouri Health Care’s South Providence Medical Park beginning 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 1. Work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31, the release says.

According to the release, a portion of the westbound lane of Veterans United Drive will be shifted to the south, while a portion of the northern sidewalk – between South Providence Road and State Farm Parkway – will be closed.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man is dead after a shooting Sunday night at a Columbia apartment complex.

Officers were sent to the Eastgate Apartments at Old 63 and Broadway at about 8 p.m. Police found Zarian Simpson, 18, of Columbia, with a gunshot wound and medics treated him at the scene, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

Simpson later died at an area hospital. He had graduated from Hickman High School in May, Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said.

A youth has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, police say.

Local activist Daniel Edwards was at Stephen’s Lake Park Monday, holding up his “Stop Killing Each Other” signs with his three sons. He called Simpson’s death “heartbreaking.”

“Having teenagers in this community, I have kids in this community, sad to see kids not being able to solve their problems without killing each other,” Edwards said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol statistics show that Columbia has had 133 gun-related crimes this year. People ages 10-17 were the largest age group of those arrested for violent crime in Columbia, according to the data.

The Kaiser Family Foundation also found a nationwide rise of youth gun violence, with child and teen gun deaths increasing 46% from 2019 to 2021 and holding steady to 2023.

“Back then, it was the adults that were doing the things and kids were mostly fighting,” Edwards said. He encourages parents to show their children patience and self-control.

Edwards is also a supporter of more trauma and grief services being provided by the city.

“If we start them young, and they out here doing the right things at a young age and inspiring each other, that’s what it’s going to take us peers, their peers too, because there’s a disconnection with the adults and the younger generation,” Edwards said.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A person was hospitalized with life-threatening burns late Sunday in Columbia and police are seeking a suspect.

Officers were called to the 1500 block of Paris Road to help firefighters at about 11:45 p.m. Sunday, according to a Columbia Police Department news release. A man had been rushed to the hospital after a porch was set on fire, the release says.

The fire caused minor property damage but left the victim with life-threatening injuries, police say.

The suspect left on a bicycle toward College Avenue, police say. Police describe him as a man wearing a hat and white T-shirt with brown hair and a mustache, 35-40 years old, about 6-feet tall and thin.

Police did not provide a possible motive.

A man who said he witnessed the attack — but wanted to stay anonymous because of safety concerns — told ABC 17News he saw someone throw gasoline onto the porch, lighting the victim on fire, and said the victim was later transported to a St. Louis hospital.

The Columbia Police Department asks anyone with information to call the department at 573-874-7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573-875-8477.

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Matthew Sanders

Protests took place in multiple Mid-Missouri cities on Saturday to coincide with a military parade held on President Donald Trump’s birthday.

“No Kings” protests were held nationwide and in local cities including Columbia, Jefferson City, Boonville and Fayette. The events drew crowds with signs bearing anti-Trump slogans. In Columbia, hundreds chanted and marched in downtown.

The protests were organized to oppose what Trump’s opponents see as his authoritarian actions, symbolized by the military parade. The president’s backers say those concerns are overblown.

What do you think? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several Columbia police officers investigated at the Eastgate Apartment complex in central Columbia Sunday night.

A social media post from CPD said they were responding to a shots fired call and asked the public to avoid the area.

According to a CPD officer on scene, police were searching for three people they believe are armed.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw several CPD and University of Missouri Police Department vehicles on scene, as well as crime scene tape. An ambulance was also seen leaving the apartment complex.

A portion of East Broadway was blocked off and a vehicle was towed from the scene around 11 p.m.

An officer on scene told ABC 17 News that additional information about what happened will not be available until Monday morning.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Governor Mike Kehoe will be heading to Paris, France Monday for a five-day trip to strengthen business ties and attract companies to the Show-Me State.

According to the governor, France is a key trade partner to Missouri, generating around $266 million in exports for the state. Major exports from Missouri include basic chemicals, electronic components and navigational and medical equipment.

Over 40 French companies operate in Missouri, including Schneider Electric, Alstom and Publicis Groupe.

Kehoe will meet with international figures and business leaders to discuss economic development. He will also visit the Movement of the Enterprises of France, the Paris Air Show and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger will serve as acting governor while Kehoe’s is away on business.

“We’re looking forward to promoting the Show-Me State as the ideal place to invest during our first international trade mission,” Governor Kehoe said in a statement.

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