Columbia’s Business Loop

Two additional suspects charged in connection with Sunday’s Plush Lounge murder; Simpson still being sought

May 12, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Boone County prosecutors have filed charges against two additional suspects for Sunday morning’s deadly shooting at Plush Lounge on Columbia’s Business Loop.

41-year-old Justin Lamarr Simpson is charged with second degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and two other felonies. 28-year-old Samuel Moss is charged with armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm and another felony. Simpson has not been captured at this time.

Simpson and Moss are both convicted felons and are not allowed to possess firearms. Online court records show Simpson’s last known address is at an apartment complex on Columbia’s Clark lane.

939 the Eagle News has obtained the Columbia Police Department’s probable cause statement on both suspects, which notes CPD obtained video footage from Plush Lounge to help identify Simpson and Moss. A witness at the scene says she saw Simpson shooting from the doorway of Plush Lounge. Another witness helped identify the suspect wearing an orange cap at the scene as Sam Moss, who was captured Wednesday at Douglass park. Court documents say cartridges in Moss’ gun allegedly match the brand of cartridge casings found at the scene.

33-year-old Kimo Spivey is also charged with murder for the incident, which court documents say began as a verbal confrontation. Four others were wounded in the Plush Lounge incident, including Spivey.

Plush Lounge has announced that it is closing.

Mizzou North’s demolition continues in Columbia; restoration expected to be done by 2024

May 10, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Major demolition continues this morning at Mizzou North on Columbia’s Business Loop.

UM System spokesman Christian Basi says demolition began in mid-March and is expected to be done by December. The scene is surrounded by a chain link fence, with heavy construction equipment and dumpsters inside the demolition zone. Mr. Basi says restoration of the site will follow the demolition and should be done sometime before the summer of 2024. Mr. Basi says there are currently no specific plans for the property, at this time.

UM System President Dr. Mun Choi told 939 the Eagle in January that the empty building has asbestos issues and was not suitable for occupancy. President Choi says the reason Mizzou moved out of the building is because it wasn’t suitable for continued long-term occupancy.

The UM Board of Curators approved the $10-million demolition plan in September. That building used to be the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. The back of Mizzou North is visible from I-70 in Columbia, near the Providence road exit.

Court documents: Weekend Columbia homicide began as verbal confrontation

May 10, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A Columbia murder suspect remains jailed without bond this morning, charged with killing a 26-year-old man early Sunday morning on the Business Loop. The Columbia Police Department’s two-page probable cause statement says the deadly shooting happened at about 2:15 am Sunday at Plush Lounge on the Business Loop.

Court documents quote a witness, who says she saw 33-year-old Kimo Spivey shoot and kill Melvin Hooker III. Court documents say it started with a verbal confrontation, and the probable cause statement indicates that Spivey and Hooker knew each other. Hooker was pronounced dead at the scene, about ten minutes after the shooting.

Boone County prosecutor Roger Johnson has charged Spivey with second degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. Spivey appeared in court for his initial arraignment via video on Tuesday afternoon. CPD’s probable cause statement says Spivey has been arrested previously for assault on law enforcement and felony resisting arrest.

Spivey has at least six previous convictions, according to court documents. Because he’s a convicted felon, he should not have been able to possess a gun.

CPD’s probable cause statement says Spivey is “known to be armed and dangerous.” Spivey was also shot during the incident and was treated at University Hospital for a gunshot wound, before being arrested.

Three others were wounded at the scene, according to Columbia Police. The redacted probable cause statement doesn’t appear to mention the other three victims.

Choi: Mizzou North is not suitable for occupancy; demolition to start this year

January 30, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Demolition of the Mizzou North building on Columbia’s Business Loop will begin sometime in 2023, according to UM System President Dr. Mun Choi (January 29, 2023 photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

The UM System president says demolition will begin sometime this year at Mizzou North on Columbia’s Business Loop.

The now-empty building has asbestos issues, according to UM System President Dr. Mun Choi. He spoke to host Fred Parry on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.”

“And the building is not really suitable for occupancy. We have a number of organizations that approached us about the possible use of the building. The reason that we moved out of the building is that it is not suitable for continued long-term occupancy,” Dr. Choi says.

The UM Board of Curators approved the $10-million demolition plan in September. Dr. Choi tells listeners that demolition should be completed in early 2024. The building used to be the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.

“We are exploring all options, whether to keep the land or perhaps use that for other purposes. But no decisions have been made about future use,” says Dr. Choi.

A 939 the Eagle reporter saw at least one open window at Mizzou North on Sunday. Mizzou North is near Rusk Rehabilitation Center and Bob McCosh Chevrolet. The back of Mizzou North is visible from I-70 in Columbia, near the Providence road exit.

Click here to listen to host Fred Parry’s full interview with UM System President Dr. Mun Choi on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.”