Newly filed court documents allege that the man Columbia police shot at a gas station on Christmas Day set fire to a couch in a hotel and threatened workers at a different hotel before the shooting.
Marc Lucas, 31, of California was charged Monday with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and first-degree arson in connection to the incidents. In addition to felony charges, Lucas also faces misdemeanor charges of first-degree trespassing and two counts of fourth-degree assault, according to court records.
According to a probable cause statement, the Columbia Fire Department responded to a Marriott hotel at 9:24 a.m. on Thursday, where firefighters found a couch that appeared to be set on fire intentionally. A torch-style lighter was found on the couch, according to the statement. Video footage from the Marriott showed Lucas exiting the hotel shortly before the time of the fire call, according to the statement.
The fire caused sprinklers to go off in multiple rooms, and many guests were staying at the hotel at the time of the fire, according to the probable cause statement.
Another probable cause statement said Lucas later attempted to get a room at a Holiday Inn Express on Cinnamon Hill Lane, north of the Marriott.
Workers at that hotel told police that Lucas threatened them with a pocket knife after they refused service to him because he was talking in circles and not answering their questions, according to the probable cause statement.
Video provided to police showed Lucas brandishing a pocket knife and approaching the desk counter at the Holiday Inn, according to the statement.
The workers said Lucas left the hotel and walked across the street to the BreakTime gas station at 3200 E. Stadium Blvd., according to the statement.
The statement said one of the workers later went to the gas station to get snacks, where they encountered Lucas again. Lucas allegedly threatened the worker with the knife inside the gas station and the worker fled, according to the probable cause statement.
According to past KOMU 8 reporting, officers then used a Taser on Lucas, but it did not stop him from advancing. Lucas allegedly attempted to assault one of the officers with a knife, and both officers then shot Lucas, police said.
Lucas has been denied bond, according to online court records. Court documents said Lucas was in the hospital recovering from injuries sustained in the shooting.