Man charged with 6 felonies in shooting that left 2 critically injured

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people are in critical condition after they were shot Tuesday morning in the 1100 block of Cordell Street, according to a press release from the Jefferson City Police Department.

The release says officers were called at 5 a.m. for a “weapons offense” and found two people suffering from gunshot wounds. Both people were brought to an area hospital.

One person was detained after police searched the area, the release says. Police wrote the investigation is ongoing.

Michael Anthony Davis, 40, of Jefferson City, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, three counts of armed criminal action, one count of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon in the shooting. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

Michael Anthony Davis/Cole County Jail

The probable cause statement says Jefferson City police were investigating a crash in the 1800 block of Highway 50/63 East when they heard multiple shots being fired.

Two women with life-threatening gunshot wounds were found in a vehicle in a wooded area, the statement says. They were brought to University Hospital in Columbia.

Police found roughly 30 shell casings in the 900 block of Harding Street and Davis was detained shortly after, the statement says.

A witness allegedly described seeing a woman arguing with Davis and Davis allegedly pulled out a long gun, the statement says. The witness did not see shots being fired, but they heard several shots in a row, the statement says.

Davis allegedly gave the witness keys to a gun safe and apologized, court documents say.

Davis allegedly told police that he does not like the second victim, who is a friend of one of the victim he resides with, court documents indicate. He got into an argument with the second victim when she arrived to the home, but did not enter it, court documents say.

Police wrote that Davis said he thought the first victim was being forced into a vehicle by the second victim and fired several rounds at the car.

A second witness is cited in the probable cause statement as hearing an argument between the first victim and Davis during a phone call. He allegedly heard the argument while the second victim was on the phone with “Victim 1.”

“Victim 1” could allegedly be heard telling Davis “you have the gun case open; you are loading the gun while we are arguing,” the probable cause statement says.

Neighbors describe scene

Neighbors said they were awakened by the sound of gunfire around 5 a.m.

“I woke up about 5 this morning to a very loud [noise]. I just thought somebody was trying to break into the house,” said Linda Kelso, who has lived on Cordell Street for the past five years. “The next thing, was the street was full of official vehicles — police, ambulances, fire trucks. The whole street was blocked off. I saw the police down there working; someone was giving CPR to someone on the ground that I couldn’t see.”

Another neighbor reiterated seeing first responders performing CPR after hearing what sounded like gunfire.

Tire marks could be seen on the street veering into the tree line next to a spot of blood on the curb.

Both neighbors ABC 17 News spoke to said the incident appeared to have stemmed from a house in the 900 block of Cordell Street. 

“There’s no damage on my car. But right here, there are all these kind of greasy, dirty marks. These are from a policeman with an assault rifle aimed at that house, balancing his gun on top of my car,” Kelso said. “I saw police walking the woman in handcuffs down the street.”

Kelso and the other neighbor described the couple who lived in the house as friendly and said they usually never had any incidents on the street.

ABC 17 News spoke to another woman at the property who said she was “not allowed to talk” about the incident.

“This is a very quiet neighborhood. We may not be wealthy, but we’re friendly and people help each other,” Kelso said. “It’s a tragedy.”

Check back for updates.

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Cole County judge approves ballot language for anti-abortion question

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Cole County judge has approved the ballot language for a summary of a constitutional amendment that would limit abortion access across the state.

Judge Daniel Green had twice refused Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ attempt to write the language for Amendment 3. The most recent rejection occurred on Oct. 1 and Hoskins — a Republican who is staunchly against abortion — was given five days to submit a revised summary.

“The Court therefore certifies the Second Revised Summary Statement and the Second Revised Fair Ballot Language Statement to the Secretary of State. See § 116.190.4(2)(c). The Secretary is ordered to include the Second Revised Summary Statement on the ballot,” a new judgement entered on Tuesday by Green says.

The ballot language now reads:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to guarantee women’s medical care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages; authorize laws to regulate abortion providers and facilities to ensure health and safety; require informed and voluntary consent for an abortion, including parental or judicial consent for minors; repeal Article I, Section 36, approved in 2024, and allow abortions in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest, with a twelve-week gestational limit for rape or incest; require physicians to provide medically accurate information; prohibit public funding of abortions except in limited circumstances; and protect children from sex-change by prohibiting certain medical procedures and medications for minors, with exceptions for specific medical conditions.

A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to guarantee women’s medical care for emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages, require parental consent for minors’ abortions, require health and safety standards for abortions, limit abortion to cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest, or to protect children from sex-change.

If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes.

“Despite three attempts, the state’s ballot summary still fails to give voters a clear and honest understanding that Amendment 3 would end Missourians’ fundamental right to reproductive freedom, a right we approved just last November. The ACLU of Missouri will appeal the certified language for both the ballot summary and the “fair ballot language” along with the violation of the state’s single subject clause,” Tori Schafer, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, wrote in a statement.

Hoskins in a press release viewed the ruling as a “victory.”

“This ruling is a victory for both the law and for Missouri voters,” Hoskins said in a release. “Senate Bill 22 is working exactly as intended. The new process ensures that constitutional and statutory ballot language is fair, sufficient, and lawful—and that Missourians can vote their values without out-of-state interests manipulating the process or misleading the public. Today’s decision confirms that our office is following the law and protecting the integrity of Missouri’s ballot.”

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Coroner’s Office: Detained man’s death caused by cardiac arrest, meth overdose

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Miller County Coroner’s Office wrote in a Monday social media post that a man who died while in custody of the law enforcement died from a “sudden cardiac arrest, secondary to acute methamphetamine toxicity.”

The coroner’s office previously wrote on Aug. 18 that Albert Clark, 54, had a plastic bag in his stomach.

Clark was involved in a chase with law enforcement on Aug. 15 and collapsed after he was detained.

He was brought to Lake Regional Hospital and was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m., according to previous reporting.

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WATCH: Tigers take questions ahead of home matchup vs. Alabama

Matthew Sanders

The No. 14 Missouri Tigers are getting ready for their biggest test yet.

The Tigers host the Alabama Crimson Tide on Faurot Field on Saturday. It’s the last in a string of home games to open the season. Alabama is ranked No. 8 after beating Vanderbilt last week.

Watch the news conference in the player.

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No one hurt after school bus crash in Callaway County

Madison Stuerman

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A second North Callaway School District bus crashed less than a week after five students were hurt on Thursday.

The second crash happened Tuesday morning near the Callaway and Audrain County line on County Road 2000 near the intersection of State Route DD.

Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Sgt. Kyle Green said one student was on board at the time of the crash, but no injuries were reported.

ABC 17 News saw the bus being pulled from a ditch by a tow truck around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday.

This is the second North Callaway School bus to crash after five students were hurt last week.

The North Callaway School District Assistant Superintendent Nicole Buschmann told ABC 17 News in an email that the two recent incidents with the buses are not related and safety is the district’s top priority.

“The district conducts a thorough review of all incidents involving school buses to confirm that all safety procedures are followed and to ensure the continued safety of our students and staff,” Buschmann stated in the email.

Green said the road was blocked while crews were at the scene, but has since been reopend. North Callaway Fire and the Highway Patrol were on scene.

North Callaway School District Superintendent Kenya Thompson said in a press release Tuesday afternoon that all bus drivers are undergoing a safety training, reviewing defensive driving techniques and route-specific considerations.

The school district is also reviewing bus routes for any safety concerns and working with the Audrain County Commissioner’s Office to see if signage is possible at the intersection of Audrain County Road 845 and County Road 852, where Thursday’s crash occurred.

“Student safety is–and always will be–our top priority,” the press release states. “We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that every child arrives to and from school safely each day.”

The press release also advises parents and community to report dangerous road conditions, intersections and driving practices to the director of transportation Tom Tenney.

This is a developing story.

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Columbia Solid Waste Utility to discuss construction for new recycling facility at open house event

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Solid Waste Utility will be hosting an open house Tuesday to discuss the construction of a new Material Recycling Facility.

The open house will be at the ARC on W. Ash St. from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It is a “come and go” event with no formal presentation, according to a press release from the city.

People who attend will have the opportunity to ask questions, speak with city staff members and submit comments for consideration.

In April, an EF-1 tornado destroyed the MRF building where city employees would sort recyclable material for baling and sale. While the city works toward constructing a new MRF, it will be looking to build a temporary facility to protect recyclables and employees from the weather.

During Monday night’s city council meeting, city leaders discussed an agreement with Federal Recycling for the city to get 50% of the net value of the material after processing and baling costs. The city will not need to make payments to Federal International Recycling and Waste Solutions even if the material value is zero.

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Jefferson City Council approves master development agreement for new conference center, hotel

Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The Jefferson City Council took several steps toward completing a new downtown conference center, which is projected to generate $584 million in economic impact over its first decade, support 372 jobs and bring in $14 million in local tax revenue.

A design report outlined the 189,420-square-foot facility, which would be built between Madison and Monroe streets, with the main entrance on East Capitol Avenue.

The project includes a 200-room hotel, bar, conference room, grand ballroom, restaurant, coffee shop and 526 parking spaces. City officials said the design aims to attract more visitors downtown and boost local business activity.

On Monday, the council approved a master development agreement with Garfield Public/Private LLC for the hotel and conference center. The agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities for developing, constructing, furnishing and opening the project. 

Under the agreement, Jefferson City will cover up to $8.3 million in development and design fees from the Conference Center Fund before issuing bonds for construction. About $1.58 million of that amount has already been authorized for schematic design work.

However, it was not passed unanimously, with Ward 5 Councilwoman Mackenzie Job and Ward 2 Councilman Aaron Mealy voicing concerns about the debt the project will cause the taxpayers. 

“It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge a substantial opportunity cost that comes with accruing such a sizeable debt,” Job said during the meeting.   As I see it, we are having the taxpayer going into it from our own citizenry or from those visiting our community, hoping that this will pay off.

Mealy, whose ward the project would be built in, also expressed skepticism in the project’s projected economic impact. 

“One of the problems I had substantially was related to the economic impact of $580 billion, I assume over the life of the bonds, $580 million of economic impact for the life of the bonds equates to little over $50,000 a day. I know these amounts are often inflated in almost every project throughout the country but I find pause in them,” Mealy said. “Costs don’t stop after construction. Even if we are able to keep the project on budget, the challenge starts when we open the doors.” 

Ward 1 Councilman Randy Hoselton pushed back, saying the conference center is meant to be a secondary benefit and is an investment in the city. 

The meeting grew tense when Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Ahlers accused Mealy of implying in a — since-deleted — Facebook post that the city lacked transparency during the planning process, saying that anyone who believed that was “dumber than a box of hammers.”

The city also passed a resolution to bring in McCownGordon on as the firm building the hotel and conference center andcreated the nonprofit “Capital City Corporation for Growth,” which will ultimately own the hotel and conference center. Officials said that the nonprofit organization will help the city move at the speed of business, not the speed of government. 

The Capital City Corporation for Growth resolution passed 7-3 with Job, Mealy and Ward 3 Councilman Derek Thomas voting against it. 

As part of the construction of the center, the capital city will also lose out on 400 parking spaces due to the demolition of the Madison Street parking garage. 

The council also authorized the closure of portions of the Madison Street parking garage on Monday, which officials say has reached the end of its useful life. 

The garage, originally built in 1961 and expanded in 1982, was last inspected in 2023. That inspection found the structure could no longer be safely used without major reconstruction, which was estimated to cost more than $12.5 million.

City staff said the structure has continued to deteriorate since then. In recent weeks, a rusted beam connection failed, and a non-load-bearing piece of angle iron, part of a previous renovation, fell from the building. A council memo also revealed that minor pieces of concrete have come loose in the past.

Ward 4 Councilwoman Julie Allen told ABC 17 News the city is working to determine how to handle parking concerns once the garage closes, but no plan has been released yet. 

If an upcoming emergency structural report finds part of the garage to be safe, the east section’s basement and drive-in area off Commercial Way may remain open temporarily for permit holders.

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Renovations underway at Cooper’s Landing general store

ABC 17 News Team

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Cooper’s Landing’s website says its general store is now under renovation.

This new building will have an upper level with indoor seating, a new restroom facility and showers for campers.

The website says preparations to tear down the current building are being done on Monday.

This renovation is expected to continue through the early spring but you can still visit and camp at the site. While the renovations are ongoing. Changes to parking are also expected.

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Columbia, Boone County to take closer look at stormwater management plan after DNR sets November deadline

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is planning to take a second look at its stormwater management plan’s language.

It comes after the Department of Natural Resources set a Nov. 15 deadline for the city to submit new draft ordinance language.

DNR sent a letter to Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and Boone County Commissioner Kip Kendrick last week, threatening penalties for failing to properly address waste from homeless encampments entering public waters. The department claims the city and county’s current stormwater and stream ordinances submitted in August are too broad.

The letter also claims the ordinances fail to address the prohibition of non-stormwater discharges from encampment activities and don’t set appropriate protections around streams within the city and county.

City of Columbia Utilities Director Erin Keys said within the next month, the city plans to look at ways to be more specific in its ordinance that would address the riparian areas. Currently, Keys said the city’s ordinance includes language related to any solid waste, trash or debris that becomes, or could become deposited in or impact waterways.

“But if we need to include riparian areas in that, I know that the city manager staff is currently looking at some urban camping restrictions, prohibitions, activities and how that plays out in public areas including parks and rights of way,” Keys said.

Kendrick told ABC 17 News via email on Monday evening that he spoke to DNR Director Kurt Schaefer Friday afternoon about the issue.

“I feel confident that we have identified a path forward to address DNR’s requests at the County level,” Kendrick said.

Keys said the city will submit a draft to the DNR and receive feedback from the public and City Council to determine whether or not the draft will be final, or if edits are needed.

The DNR claims Hinkson Creek, Grindstone Creek and Hominy Branch contain E. coli from human waste from homeless encampments near the streams. It claims this poses significant risks to Columbia’s water quality and public health.

Keys said all three of those creeks have been added to the 303D list, which identifies water that has impairments. She also said the city has taken active steps toward cleaning up homeless encampments as soon as they are made aware of them and believes the current ordinance allows the city to enforce and ensure public waters are safe and protected.

Keys said the city has also recently had a request for a proposal for vendors that would help with the clean-up process.

Columbia, Boone County and the University of Missouri outlined a coordinated plan in August to address illegal encampments and prevent waste from entering local waterways. The plan emphasizes compliance with city and county stormwater regulations, the Missouri Clean Water Law and federal pollution laws, while tracking complaints and cleanup efforts.

The three are currently trying to renew a joint-operating permit aimed at preventing contaminants, such as sewage and chemicals, from polluting local water sources.

DNR’s letter also claims it provided examples of stream protection measures used in San Jose, California, and Bozeman, Montana, as examples but never received a response. Keys said the city has looked at the examples and tried to determine how they’re relevant to Columbia.

“The San Jose one I looked at, it sounds like they have an extensive number of homeless encampments in their community, we’re talking hundreds of encampments,” Keys said. “My understanding of the ordinances there were to prioritize which ones got cleaned up first. In Columbia, we want to clean them all up, especially the ones on public property.”

The city and DNR have had several discussions regarding homeless encampments within the last year. DNR met with city and county leaders in July and September to discuss proactive measures to keep solid waste from polluting local streams.

The DNR also warned that future investigations finding human waste near streams in violation of the Missouri Clean Water Law could lead to penalties, potentially affecting the city and county’s eligibility for state and federal grants.

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Callaway County woman accused of using AR-15 to shoot at elderly man in skid steer

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County woman was charged on Monday after she allegedly shot an AR-15 at an elderly man who was driving a skid steer on Sunday in a residence east of Fulton.

Rebecca Elm, 58, was charged with second-degree assault, armed criminal action and first-degree property damage. She is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says Elm called law enforcement after she fired a round at the skid steer. When deputies arrived, the victim was not able to get out of the skid steer because of his age and physical ability, the statement says. The victim allegedly had a cut on his arm from broken glass.

The victim allegedly told deputies that Elm blocked his path to an easement with her car before she fired a shot, the statement says. Elm allegedly claimed the victim drove toward an easement that belonged to her and admitted to pulling out the gun from her vehicle and firing a round, the statement says.

The shot allegedly caused around $800 worth of damage to the skid steer and law enforcement determined the shot missed the victim’s head by about 6 inches, the statement says.

When deputies told Elm she was under arrest, she allegedly said “I should of just shot him then,” the statement says.

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