93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
The Columbia Police Department releases a video responding to criticism over how it investigated a shooting death downtown.
Tershawn Kitchen was killed while working as a security guard at Vibez Lounge early on the morning of February 2. Another person was badly hurt. The suspected shooter, Curtis Lewis, was quickly arrested.
The lounge has said online that officers pushed staffers away who were trying to help Kitchen, then let him die. The web post also claims CPD got a search warrant even though it was not necessary because the staff was cooperative. The post says staffers felt like police treated them like perpetrators.
CPD says in the video released Monday that officers immediately tried to help Kitchen, and did not prevent anyone from doing the same. The department says officers eventually did get permission from the club owner to perform the search, but not at first. They also generally prefer to get a warrant regardless.
