Two men described by Columbia police as 'persons of interest' in the Carlos Kelly homicide investigation were taken into custody Thursday night after a brief standoff at an apartment on Demaret Drive.
The men were identified as Rodney E. Cunningham, 30, of 713 Cooke Ave. and Travis S. Midgyett, 26, of 3705 Greeley. They were taken into custody about 10:30 p.m. Thursday after a brief standoff with the Columbia police's Special Tactics and Response Unit and the Crisis Negotiations Team. The Boone County Sheriff¹s Department¹s tactical team was also on the scene to assist.
The men were taken to the Columbia Police Department for questioning in regard to the homicide, Capt. Brad Nelson said in a news release. Cunningham was being held in the Boone County Jail on Friday on two outstanding felone charges of first-degree trafficking as a result of a previous narcotics investigation, police said. Midgyett was jailed on a felony parole warrant.
Kelly, 34, was found dead at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday after a call was made to 911 by a female acquaintance. She reported that he had been beaten and robbed. All four witnesses who were at the apartment when the suspects entered have been interviewed. The autopsy report shows Kelly died of a blow to the head, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 875-8477.