Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Dozens of people gathered Friday night at Cosmo Park in Columbia to honor a teenager who died in a shooting this past weekend.
Zarian Simpson died in a shooting on Sunday, June 15 during an armed robbery. Two juveniles were arrested, along with Steven Paden, 34.
Friends and family started gathering at Cosmo Park around 7 p.m. Balloons were let go shortly before 10 p.m.
Marie Moyer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The public is invited to line East Broadway Saturday morning for Columbia’s annual Juneteenth parade at 9 a.m.
The parade will start at Columbia’s First Baptist Church on East Broadway and Waugh Street. The parade will then head down East Broadway and end at the Second Baptist Church on North 4th Street.
The event is for all ages and is expected to have music and dance performances.
According to emergency plan documents, law enforcement will be present at the parade. For cases involving lost children, suspicious bags, or medical emergencies, attendees can ask a volunteer for help. Volunteers will then locate the nearest officer and event organizer at the scene for further assistance.
In the case of a weather emergency or terroristic threat, guests will be told to head to a nearby shelter or shelter in their cars.
Traffic impacts are expected on East Broadway, and drivers are advised to be aware of an increased number of children and people in the area.
Other Saturday morning events include the 3×3 basketball tournament for kids grades 3-12 at Douglass Park and the St. Paul Juneteenth Legacy event at the St. Paul AME Church on Park Avenue. Both events start at 11 a.m.
Additional events can be found on the City of Columbia’s website.
Ryan Shiner
BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Smoke was seen Friday evening coming from a wooded area of Boone County that is north and east of Columbia.
Boone County firefighters were called near the intersection of Route HH and East O’Rear Road at 6:53 p.m., according to dispatch records.
Boone County Fire Protection District Chief Gale Blomenkamp said there is a homeless encampment in the area. Capt. Stephen McLane said at the scene around 8 p.m. that there “appears to be an unhoused community back there.”
No injuries have been reported and four firefighters responded in two trucks. The cause of the fire is under investigation. McLane said he expects the fire to burn for “awhile.”
Check back for updates.
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The two juveniles detained after a Columbia homicide will continue to be held in a juvenile center.
The suspects are 15 and 13 years old.
They’re accused of being involved in the armed robbery and fatal shooting of 18-year-old Zarian Simpson on Sunday.
They were detained along with 34-year-old Steven Paden earlier this week.
They are both due back in court at 9 a.m. Friday, June 27.
Mitchell Kaminski
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As Independence Day approaches, Missourians are lighting up the sky — and the nation’s spending charts.
Fireworks sales at seasonal retailers began on Friday, marking the start of one of the busiest and most-explosive stretches of the year.
According to U.S. trade data from Lending Tree, Missouri imported $85.7 million worth of fireworks in 2024, the most per capita in the country at $13.84 per resident. That’s well ahead of other fireworks-friendly states like Kansas ($8.79) and Nebraska ($7.02). Missouri also ranks ninth in the nation for fireworks exports, accounting for 1.7% of all U.S. shipments.
“Missouri has a reputation amongst all the states as being fireworks-friendly,” said Bob Gerau, who has ran Bob’s Fireworks since 2005 and has been in the industry since 1965.
“When you get out of Missouri, because we have the competition here, the prices go through the roof, things that I sell for $30 to $60, 500 grams, you get up in Indiana, you can’t buy in for less than $100,” he said
Gerau said the fireworks business can be costly to run, with tent setups alone costing upwards of $10,000. That’s why he opts to operate a brick-and-mortar shop, allowing him to sell fireworks year-round.
Still, he says the payoff is about more than just profit.
“Kids come in this year, everybody gets a free frog (a type of firework),” Gerau said. “Dad can walk out with a hundred bucks worth of fireworks, but the kid’s got a frog and he is happier than what dad just bought because of his frog. And I love it. I just love to see that.”
Missouri’s recently updated some of its firework regulations, but its relaxed laws compared to other states help fuel sales. The legal age to buy fireworks in the state is 16 years old, and seasonal sales are permitted between June 20-July 10. As of June 16, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety had issued 1,127 permits to seasonal fireworks retailers.
But with fireworks comes risk.
“Across the U.S., Independence Day is the busiest day of the year for fires, and we’re also entering the time of year when the vast majority of fireworks injuries occur,” State Fire Marshal Tim Bean said in a press release. “If you choose to use consumer fireworks, do so cautiously.”
In 2024, Missouri hospitals treated 328 people for fireworks-related injuries. Of those, 81% occurred between June 21-July 11. The majority were treated and released from the emergency room, but 37 people required in-patient care.
Nationwide, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that eight people died and 9,700 were treated for fireworks injuries in 2023. Children younger than 15 years old accounted for 31% of those injuries.
At Spirit of ‘76 Fireworks, assistant manager Rose Walker said business has stayed strong since a pandemic-era boom.
“We had the big boom in fireworks after COVID because people wanted to do something. So they came to the tent,” she said. “And from there, it’s just been something people love to do.”
Walker said artillery shells are among the store’s best-sellers—but she’s also seen what happens when customers aren’t careful.
“Fireworks are fun, but they are very dangerous as well,” she said. “A lot of people have a big ego going into fireworks until they blow their hand off… Safety is just a big thing for our brand. We want to sell cool products, but also keep our customers in mind.”
She said the biggest mistakes she sees involve improper setup.
“One of the biggest things I’ve seen is just not bracing your cakes or artillery shells,” Walker said. “Things can go wrong very badly, very quickly.”
To avoid injuries, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety recommends the following:
Only buy from licensed retailers and confirm fireworks are legal in your area.
Light fireworks in a cleared, open area away from flammable materials.
Supervise teenagers and never allow young children to handle fireworks.
Never consume alcohol while using fireworks.
Keep water nearby, light one firework at a time, and properly dispose of used fireworks.
“We encourage folks to take advantage of public fireworks displays,” Bean said. “But if you do choose to use consumer fireworks, follow the instructions and take safety seriously.”More safety tips can be found at dfs.dps.mo.gov/safetytips/fireworks-safety.php. For questions, contact the Division of Fire Safety at (573) 751-2930.
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Central Missouri Humane Society in Columbia wrote that it could kill dogs for space reasons for the first time in more than 10 years.
CMHS wrote on its social media that it started Friday with no kennels available “and desperately need dogs to leave in order to avoid making space-based euthanasia decisions at the end of the day.”
CMHS closes at 6 p.m. CMHS is a no-kill shelter, which it typically means a shelter has a live-release rate of 90% or more. The shelter wrote in a Facebook comment that it currently has a 95% live release rate.
A link to the adoption process can be found here, while a foster application can be found here.
CMHS updated its post at 5:24 p.m. saying that more than 50 foster families have signed and freed up several kennels.
“At this time, we are likely looking for unicorn homes to help our more particular pups find placement. A unicorn home is going to be one without kids, cats, or dogs,” the post says. “We can always use foster homes, so please continue to sign up. However, at this time, non-unicorn homes may have a harder time finding the right pup for their situation. Thank you all again, we are incredibly grateful”
Check back for updates.
Keriana Gamboa
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Trump administration could declare the City of Columbia in violation of a federal executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, city leaders say.
Such a determination could result in the suspension of federal funding, termination of existing contracts and demands for repayment of previously awarded federal funds.
Fifth Ward Councilman Don Waterman said roughly $50 million in federal grants could be at risk.
“Some grants that we’ve previously received that we’ve already spent — they could come and ask for some of that back. It’s what’s called a clawback,” Waterman said.
“We are not able to say what grants specifically we might be required to pay back at this time,” city grant administrator Rachel Volmert wrote in response to questions. “This is an unprecedented situation, and the way the federal government is going to respond is not entirely clear … We are continuously evaluating how to continue providing services as cuts occur, and will keep customers or patients who may be impacted informed on any changes.”
If enforced, the move could leave taxpayers responsible for covering the budget gap.
The City’s Director of Finance said the matter has not been formally discussed at this time.
If the government chooses to stop funding, one of the first agencies to feel the effects would be the Columbia and Boone County Public Health and Human Services.
Almost $9 million in federal grant money goes toward the city’s health and Economic Development departments.
Local health department officials say they remain optimistic that funding won’t dry up. But state officials, who administer many federal grants, don’t have answers. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Senior Services told ABC 17 News on Friday that the department is unsure whether some federal grants that are frozen will be released.
The local Department of Public Health and Human Services receives federal funding across five key service areas: women’s and children’s health, violence prevention, mental health and substance use treatment, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and a range of additional public health programs.
The department’s funding loss for the 2025 fiscal year would be $5.4 million if grants remain frozen.
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Fulton man who is accused of killing his classmate in 1991 has asked for his case to be dismissed.
William “Chris” Niemet, of Fulton, is accused of killing his classmate, Greg Jones, in April 1991 in Russellville. Jones was 14. Niemet also would have been 14 at the time. Niemet was charged in 2020 with first-degree murder.
The trial has been delayed multiple times.
Niemet’s lawyer filed a motion for dismissal with prejudice on Wednesday over an accusation of a lack of evidence.
The motion claims that there is no date or location listed for the victim’s death and alleges there’s no weapon or ammunition traced to the crime.
A hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 25.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 2026; while a trial is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 20, 2026.
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two people have been charged with felonies after a man allegedly raped a teenager in Morgan County.
Trevaughn Jones, 29, of Independence, was charged with two counts of second-degree statutory rape and one count of second-degree statutory sodomy. He is being held at the Morgan County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Kayla Arnone, 38, of Excelsior Springs, was charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. She is being held at the Morgan County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Arraignments for both people are scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the probable cause statement, deputies were called to a residence after Arnone claimed her roommate assaulted her. She then allegedly told deputies that Jones, the roommate and a 15-year-old girl left the area and that Jones was in a “sexual relationship” with the youth, the statement says.
Deputies found the two walking on Route WW and the girl allegedly denied the “relationship.” Jones allegedly admitted it to deputies and described multiple sexual encounters, the statement says.
Arnone allegedly told deputies that she thought Jones was 18, still thought the “relationship” was inappropriate, but didn’t tell law enforcement because she was unsure of the law, the statement says.
Lucas Geisler
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
An attorney for Ryan Ferguson hopes to get $1 million more in his eight-figure lawsuit against an insurance company.
Attorney Michael Berry asked Cole County Judge Cotton Walker on Friday to add at least $1.3 million to the $43.8 million judgment he awarded on Monday. Berry said Walker did not properly add 129 days’ interest on the award.
A Cole County jury sided with Ferguson and six former Columbia police detectives in November in their lawsuit against Travelers Insurance. They claimed Travelers refused to pay out the remaining $2.9 million of a more than $11 million settlement Ferguson and the detectives inked over his reversed murder conviction for sports editor Kent Heitholt’s death in the Columbia Daily Tribune parking lot and decade-long incarceration. The jury awarded him $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $35 million in punitive damages.
Ferguson attorney Kathleen Zellner said the $43.8 million judgment and the money already collected from the settlement make the case the largest court award for a wrongful conviction in U.S. history.
Ryan Ferguson post judgement briefDownload
Walker determined the amount of annual interest added to the award from Jan. 16, 2008, to Feb. 7, 2025. Berry argued that interest should run through June 16’s final award, adding another 129 days, or $1.3 million more. That would also affect how much money Travelers would be expected to pay in post-judgment interest.
Berry also said he planned to challenge Walker’s cap on the total amount of punitive damages awarded. Walker applied a state law to the award that caps punitive damages in a lawsuit at five times the “net judgment,” or compensatory damages and prejudgment interest on compensatory damages.
Walker put that total at $24.2 million, less than the $35 million the jury called for.
