Four men arrested on suspicion of shooting in Derby Ridge area
The same truck was involved in a past shooting.
Published Sept. 25, 2009
Four men were arrested on suspicion of shooting at a moving vehicle around 3:30 a.m. Sept. 19 in the Derby Ridge area, a Columbia Police Department news release stated.
Duran Griffith, Christopher A. Robinson and Javion Wallace of Columbia and Vernell Waxter were arrested on suspicion of firing at an unnamed victim.
The victim, a 26-year-old man, was driving to his girlfriend's house when a black truck came up behind him. Suspects in the truck opened fire on the victim's vehicle before bumping into him. The truck then drove around the victim and shot at his vehicle again, the news release stated. There were no passengers, and the victim was not injured.
"It sounds like the victim was borrowing someone else's car," CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said. "We think the owner of the vehicle was the intended victim."
Haden said it was dark out and the victim's vehicle had tinted windows.
The weapon used in the shooting was located at 4:25 a.m., Haden said. She described the weapon as a Taurus PT92 9 mm with a silver barrel and black handle. Police found 9 mm shell-casings in the truck the suspects were pulled over in.
According to the news release, a house on Omaha Court, as well as parked vehicles, had also been hit by gunfire. Police collected 9 mm shell-casings from the scene.
The vehicle the shooters used is the same one that was used in a shooting on July 31 at 115 Benton St. in Columbia. The same truck was used in both shootings, but police believe the two crimes are not linked. The suspect of the July 31 shooting, William McNeary, has not been arrested.
All four suspects have been charged with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.