COLUMBIA — Around 30 shots were fired in downtown Columbia in the early morning hours of Halloween in an incident police say was gang-related, Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said in a news conference Friday morning.
The Columbia Police Department organized the news conference following the arrest of De'koryon White, 23, who is accused of firing a shot that left a 36-year-old woman with life-threatening injuries.
White was charged Tuesday with first-degree assault, discharging a firearm at a person, and two counts of armed criminal action, and his charges were unsealed following his arrest on Thursday, according to court records.
White is currently in the Boone County Jail and is expected to make an initial appearance in court at 1 p.m. Friday.
Two other people had previously been arrested in connection to the shooting, which happened in an alley near the intersection of Eighth and Walnut streets.
Demarquen Allen, 28, faces state charges of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon by exhibiting it.
Iseah Jackson, 23, faces a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
During the news conference, Schlude said four other men have been arrested in connection to the shooting, and a 16-year-old boy has been detained.
Watch the full news conference
She said investigators believe gang-related activity led to the Halloween shooting.
The initial investigation further revealed that a total of 30 shots were fired, and 11 firearms were recovered during further investigation, including AR-15 style pistols, according to a news release from the Columbia Police Department.
Schlude also said video from the scene of incident was obtained through Flock Safety cameras and license plate readers, calling it one of the most shocking videos in her two decades of law enforcement.
Schlude called the video critical to the case, as only one witness came forward to speak on the incident. She stressed that anyone involved in cases like these within Columbia would be prosecuted at the federal level.
Schlude also asked that anyone who witnessed the shooting come forward, and she asked for the public's help in identifying other individuals who were allegedly at the scene of the shooting.
Police release images of suspects
The Columbia Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify people allegedly involved in a shooting near Eighth and Walnut streets around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 31.
Suspect image
Full list of suspects
The seven men and one juvenile were arrested on the following dates for the following:
Iseah Jackson, 23, of Columbia, was arrested on Oct. 31 and charged federally with felon in possession of a firearm.
Demarquen Allen, 28, of Columbia, was arrested on Oct. 31 for unlawful use of a weapon by exhibiting and armed criminal action.
Kelvin Clark, 22, of Columbia, was arrested on Nov. 3 for armed criminal action, assault in the first-degree and unlawful use of a weapon, exhibiting and shooting at/from a motor vehicle.
Demarkus Cain Jr., 25, of Columbia, was arrested on Nov. 4 for assault in the fourth-degree and unlawful use of a weapon, exhibiting.
De Koryion White, 23, of Columbia, was arrested on Nov. 5 for armed criminal action, assault in the first-degree and unlawful use of a weapon, exhibiting and shooting at/from a motor vehicle.
Treyvale Cain-Raybon, 21, of Columbia, was arrested on Nov. 5 for armed criminal action, assault in the first-degree and unlawful use of a weapon, exhibiting and shooting at/from a motor vehicle.
Detravion Coats, 21, of Columbia, was arrested on Nov. 5 for armed criminal action, assault in the first-degree and unlawful use of a weapon, exhibiting and shooting at/from a motor vehicle.
A juvenile male, 16, of Columbia, was arrested on Nov. 5 for armed criminal action, assault in the first-degree and unlawful use of a weapon, exhibiting and shooting at/from a motor vehicle.