High school student connected with weekend shootings
Columbia Police Department officers arrested Alonzo Stevens, 17, Tuesday after school administrators at Douglass High School reported a student who had a loaded gun. A 16-year-old suspect was arrested as well.
According to a CPD news release, a staff member at the school saw Stevens and the other suspect student acting suspiciously near a school restroom.
“The staff member told administrators, who then spoke with the girl and found the loaded .45 caliber handgun in her purse," the release stated. "Officers seized the gun and transported the two suspects to the Columbia Police Department."
Detectives had also discovered before the Douglass incident that Stevens was at the scene of the shooting at Town and Country Bowling Lanes on Sunday and another approximately two hours later at Wilkes Boulevard and Paris Road where two people were shot. A .45-caliber gun was also used at that incident, according to the release.
Stevens later admitted he was at the bowling alley and had shot at the other subject, whom he would not name, and said he was also with the two people shot at Wilkes and Paris later that night.
Stevens said his gun was a “dirty” or stolen gun and admitted to having it while at school.
“Investigators in this case believe the incidents over the weekend are a result of a feud between two local gangs," the release stated. "Stevens has been identified as a member of one of those gangs. It is unknown at this time the exact cause of the feud."
Stevens was arrested on three counts of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of receiving stolen property. The 16-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of unlawful use of a weapon.