Category: kmiz-local-news

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou men’s basketball team has punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, and fans are looking to get theirs.

The Tigers are set to face the Miami Hurricanes at 9:10 p.m. in an opening round game at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

“We were over-the-moon excited,” said Morgan Hackney, who is the assistant director of Alumni Engagement with the Mizzou Alumni Association. “I know our fans feel the same way. I know that’s how the team’s feeling right now.”

She said having March Madness in the state was the best-case scenario.

“One in five Tigers hails from the St. Louis area, so it was so exciting to think that this event that people get so excited about and usually have to take off work or find time to travel to is just like right in the backyard of one of our biggest cities,” Hackney said.

Fans looking to go need to first know what ticket to buy to see the black and gold.

“Tickets are always tricky when it comes to March Madness because they sell it by the session,” Hackney said. “When you buy a ticket for a session, you actually technically have tickets for both of those games. Even if you’re only interested in going to one or the other.”

Mizzou is set to play in the last session of round one. While there are many ways to go about buying a ticket, some are safer then others.

“Be in the driver’s seat and initiate the contact,” Columbia Regional Director for the Better Business Bureau Khesha Duncan said. “You want to do your research.”

Some safe buying tips, according to Duncan, includes using reputable sellers from sites like Ticketmaster, which was shared by official Mizzou Athletics social media accounts on Sunday.

“Buying the parking pass as well as the tickets all at the same time based on the recommendations and guidance from the Enterprise Center, I think is a good vote of confidence,” Duncan said.

Buying from an online source can leave consumers vulnerable to scammers who thrive in times like March Madness.

“Last year our scam tracker tool had like 140 reports of fake ticket sales of one kind or another,” Duncan said. “With AI, it’s more easy to duplicate websites and duplicate platforms that look like they’re real and they’re not.”

Duncan warned of pop-up ads or prices that seem too good to be true. When buying resale from a third-party seller, you can check if they’re accredited on the Better Business Bureau’s website.

The alumni association is also urging people to purchase from verified vendors. They invite fans to stop by Ball Park Village on Friday, which is about 10 minutes from the Enterprise Center, for a Mizzou Headquarters Party.

“Fans can stop by and get free giveaway items. We’ll have a spirit rally with Golden Girls, Truman, all of those things. We’ll have a deejay and be able to have almost like a block party type feel for fans to gather before they go down to the game,” Hackney said.

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Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council is moving forward with filling the vacant Ward 2 seat following Councilman Aaron Mealy’s resignation earlier this month, though city officials say the process may need to be changed moving forward.

During Monday’s meeting, City Attorney Nathan Nickolaus outlined how the process works under the current city code, while also acknowledging concerns about how it has been handled in the past.

Nickolaus explained that under the city charter, the mayor is supposed to nominate a candidate subject to council approval, however the ordinance expands that process.

Under the ordinance, council members must make nominations at their next meeting on April 6. Each nomination requires a second, and once nominated, candidates will have four days to file a declaration of candidacy with the city clerk, including a cover letter and resume. 

Ward 2 Councilman Mike Lester raised concerns that the process was handled differently the last time the council filled a vacancy and proposed updating the ordinance before holding a public session. 

However, Nickolaus said any changes would have to be made at the April 6 meeting, which could create a longer meeting focused on both nominations and ordinance changes. 

“You can look at the ordinance, and it’s very clear. Step one, nominations, it says when those nominations have to take place. Step two is declaration of candidacy, it says when those has to take place, and then the public session, which it doesn’t say that’s set by the council,” Nickolaus said in response to Lester’s concerns. “Then there’s the election and it says when that takes place. You can’t progress them all in one meeting. The ordinance doesn’t allow it.” 

Under the current ordinance, the city must also hold a public session between April 10 and April 20. 

After a lengthy discussion, the council voted 8-1 to hold that session on April 13, with Ward 3 Councilman Derek Thomas voting no due to a scheduling conflict. During that public session, candidates will have an opportunity to address and answer questions from the city council. 

Nickolaus said the earliest the council can vote on a replacement is April 20, and a candidate must receive a majority of the nine-member council. Voting will continue until a majority is reached. An official election date, which can take place anytime after April 20th, has not been set. 

Nickolaus also noted that some practices used during previous vacancies, such as inviting candidates to speak and answer questions during the nomination process, are not included in the current ordinance. He added that the ordinance, last updated in 2009, should likely be changed, but cannot be amended before this appointment process is completed.

“We’re trying really hard to make sure we follow this code book. So when we hear about these processes, and we are not following our code, it’s really disappointing to me,” City Administrator Brian Crane said during the meeting. “I just want everybody to understand we’re trying best we can to follow the laws that are in place if we don’t like the laws, we change the laws, but we don’t just ignore the laws.” 

The city has already begun accepting letters of interest for the position. City spokeswoman Molly Bryan said Monday afternoon that two letters had been submitted.

Interested residents must submit a letter of interest outlining their qualifications to the city clerk. Candidates must be U.S. citizens at least 21 years old, have lived in the city for at least one year and in the ward for six months, and meet additional eligibility requirements.

Mealy, who was elected in 2023 and had one year remaining in his term, announced his resignation in an email to local media on March 2.

“It has been an honor to serve the residents of this community. However, I can no longer in good conscience continue in this role due to ongoing trust, honesty, and accountability issues with city hall administration,” the email states.

His replacement will serve the remainder of his term.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was shot by Columbia police on Christmas Day is currently in hospice care, according to court documents.

Marc Lucas, of the state of California, is now charged with first-degree arson, misdemeanor first-degree trespassing, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and a pair of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault counts. His case was refiled on Monday, which dropped a count of armed criminal action.

Lucas was in the Boone County Jail earlier this month following a grand jury indictment. His bond memo says he was released under his own recognizance because he is in hospice care at Landmark Hospital and cannot be in the jail because of the extent of his injuries from the shooting. The bond memo says he is being tracked with a GPS monitor.  

Court documents in previous reporting say Lucas allegedly set a couch on fire at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at Grindstone Parkway and Highway 63. He then got into a fight with Holiday Inn Express employees after he was denied a room at that hotel, previous reporting indicates. He had also allegedly pulled out a knife during some point in the encounter.

Lucas then allegedly walked to a nearby Break Time gas station, pulled out the knife and threatened to assault someone while officers were there, the statement says.

Officers allegedly tried to use a stun gun while detaining Lucas, but Lucas then allegedly tried to attack one of the officers with a knife and he was shot, police wrote in a December press release.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was accused in the 2023 McClung Park shooting in Jefferson City pleaded guilty to a felony on Friday.

Dayjaun Crossland, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to five years of probation. He was previously charged with accessory to first-degree assault, accessory to unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.

Previous reporting says Crossland was injured in the shooting, but was accused of pulling a gun and firing during an argument at a party with about 100 people at McClung Park. Police found at three least calibers of ammunition at the park.

Raymond White-Murry, of Fulton, pleaded guilty in 2024 to aiding and abetting a shooting and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation. He originally faced that charge and a count of armed criminal action.

Laquan Boose, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty last year to accessory to unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation.

Syvonn Byrd, of Jefferson City, also pleaded guilty last year to unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation. He was previously charged with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. 

One witness had identified Byrd, according to the probable cause statement described in previous reporting. The witness allegedly told police that Byrd took out a gun from his waistband on Oct. 5, pointed it at several people at a party and shot, court documents in previous reporting say. Court documents say the witness’ account lined up with video recordings seen by law enforcement.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man has been arrested and charged after police say he pointed a gun at a minor and a laser pointer at a cop on Thursday.

Christian Prody, 20, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree harassment, a misdemeanor. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. An arraignment was held on Monday and Prody pleaded not guilty by video from the jail. A counsel status hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The probable cause statement says the minor victim and another person described as a witness drove toward a smoke shop around 7 p.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of Jefferson Street. The pair noticed Prody in the parking lot. The victim claimed he had prior “disagreements” with Prody and that Prody had previously pulled out a gun and pointed it at him, police wrote in the statement.

The victim and witness decided to keep driving around until they did not see Prody in that parking lot, the statement says. Prody allegedly went across the street and pointed a gun at the vehicle containing the victim and witness, the statement says.

The victim’s mother allegedly told police that Prody had started texting the victim threatening messages while the officer spoke with them, the statement says.

After the officer stepped out of the home, he noticed a green laser being pointed at him from a white SUV parked down the road, the statement says.

The officer performed a traffic stop on the vehicle and Prody allegedly admitted to pulling out the gun at the smoke shop and using the laser pointer “to scare the Victim, making him think he was pointing a gun at him,” court documents say. The officer found the laser pointer and gun in the vehicle.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man is in jail after authorities claim he robbed a Rolla gas station convenience store at gunpoint on March 10.

Allen White Jr. was charged Friday in Phelps County with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and first-degree kidnapping. Police confirmed in a Monday news release that White is being held without bond at the Phelps County Jail.

The probable cause statement says police were called at 1:48 a.m. March 10 for an armed robbery at a gas station in the 1900 block of North Bishop Avenue. White allegedly demanded the cashier give him all of the money from registers, took the victim’s phone and demanded they stay in a back room before counting to 20, the statement. He allegedly took $279.

The statement says the victim claimed White had altered his voice and wore a mask while making demands. He allegedly also frequents the store, the statement says.

Someone on camera was allegedly seen walking out of the store matching clothing worn by White around the time of the robbery, the statement says. He was seen entering a Nissan Frontier, which was allegedly identified as his vehicle by people interviewed by police, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 71-year-old woman from Pilot Grove was killed in a Monday morning crash on Highway 135 at Route E in Cooper County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol

The report says the woman was a passenger in a 2014 Toyota Venza that was driven by a 74-year-old Pilot Grove man. The vehicle was heading south on Highway 135 when a 2012 Ford F-250 – driven by a 32-year-old Moberly man – was heading west.

The driver of the Toyota stopped at a stop sign at the intersection before driving straight and the Ford F-250 “slid and failed to stop” as it hit the Toyota, the report says.

The Toyota then slid, went off the road and hit a stop sign while the Ford “came to a controlled stop at Highway 135,” the report says.

The victim in the crash and the driver of the Toyota wore seatbelts, while the driver of the Ford did not wear one, the report says. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and was brought to Meisenheimer-Page- Dady Funeral Home, the report says. The 74-year-old man had minor injuries and was brought to University Hospital by ambulance.

A social media post from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop F – which covers most of Mid-Missouri – stated two people were injured in addition to the fatality.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported after a processing plant in California, Missouri, caught fire on Sunday night, according to a social media post from the California Fire Department.

Crews were called at 11 p.m. to Pitman Family Farms on East Smith Street for a fire that was “visible in the lunchroom area and possibly above the ceiling,” the post says. The department wrote that responding crews determined the fire involved an air conditioning unit above the breakroom.

“Fire crews arrived and made entry into the facility, where visible smoke was present in the lower level of the building,” the post says. “Crews advanced to a second-floor mechanical area and located a large industrial condenser unit with visible flames. Water was quickly applied, and the fire was extinguished. Crews then verified the fire had not extended into the roof structure before shifting operations to smoke removal and ventilation.”

The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes and was “contained to the condenser unit and its immediate surroundings,” the post says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse after authorities claim he abused an employee at the University Hospital emergency room.

Antonio Murphy, 38, is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

The probable cause statement claims Murphy had touched the employee while he was being looked at in a triage area on March 8. He allegedly grabbed the victim while pressing himself against them, the statement says.

Cameras allegedly showed Murphy attempting to grab the victim multiple times, but pulling his hand away when the victim turned around, the statement says. The camera did not record Murphy assaulting the victim because the area where it happened was out of view, but it recorded the victim running out of the room, the statement says.

Murphy allegedly followed the victim into an exam room, causing the victim to leave that room and walk behind a nurse’s station, the statement says. Murphy was then allegedly seen grabbing himself, court documents say.

Murphy allegedly told police on Thursday that he may have “unintentionally” touched the victim, the statement says.

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Josie Anglin

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A juvenile has been detained after the Jefferson City Police Department investigated a bomb threat over the weekend, according to a Monday press release from JCPD.

A Lowe’s employee said the store received a hand-written note that included a bomb threat at 8:23 P.M. Sunday , according to the release. JCPD officers and a K-9 unit from Missouri Capitol Police responded to the scene.

After an investigation, JCPD determined there was no threat and the public was not in danger. The youth was later arrested.

The name of the juvenile and pending charges were not announced on Monday morning.

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