Shooting victim uncooperative with investigators

Police are unable to move forward with the investigation.

By Anna Carlson

Published Aug. 24, 2010

The victim of a shooting in northwest Columbia is not cooperating with police investigation, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jill Wieneke said.

The incident happened at about 12:15 a.m. Aug. 15, in the 2900 block of Northland Drive. The victim, 25, was shot in the hip and rushed to University Hospital, where he was taken directly to surgery. His injuries were not life threatening.

Forensic Evidence Team members collected evidence at the scene of the shooting and detectives interviewed witnesses. Wieneke said investigators believe this shooting was not random.

“(We believe the shooting was not random) because of some inconsistencies in statements,” Wieneke said. “There are just aspects of the incident that led us to believe it was a targeted event.”

Investigators were able to interview the victim after he was out of surgery, but he would not tell police if he knew the shooters.

Wieneke also said investigators have not been able to do much since the victim is not cooperating.

“It doesn’t look like they’ve been able to do anything else because he isn’t telling them a whole lot,” Wieneke said. “We know it’s not a random thing. Likely one of those situations when one person has a problem with someone else and they don’t want to tell the police about it. He’s not being very cooperative right now.”

No arrests have been made in this case, but police are still looking for two suspects.

The first suspect is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and 185 pounds. According to the news release, he is in his early 20s and has short hair. He was reportedly wearing a red shirt. The second suspect is 5 feet 10 inches tall in his early 20s with short hair and skinny build.

Anyone who has any information about this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 875-TIPS.