Shots fired at apartment complex; man arrested

Columbia police arrested a 25-year-old Columbia man Tuesday who they said fired several shots at a north Columbia apartment.

Ray Anthony Redmond Jr. was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary and armed criminal action.

Nobody was injured in the early-morning shooting, police said.

Redmond was in the basement apartment at 1634 Towne Drive with four or five other people, Columbia police Sgt. Lloyd Simons said.

Vivian Cook, who lives in the building, said she heard a loud stereo and thought there was a party going on downstairs. Around 11:30 p.m. Monday, she said she heard arguing as she was lying in bed.

“I’m on oxygen, so I didn’t get up to look,” she said.

Redmond got in an argument with the residents of the apartment, and they made him and Jacob A. Lambert leave, Simons said.

A resident called police because of the loud arguing in the parking lot. When officers arrived, they arrested Lambert on suspicion of an outstanding warrant, Simons said.

After police left, Redmond returned to the apartment and tried to get in, but the residents shut the door, Simons said. Redmond fired several shots toward the apartment from inside the building’s hallway and from its parking lot, Simons said.

After the shooting, neighbors called police, who responded at 1:05 a.m. Tuesday, Simons said.

Anupriya Tyagi, who lives in a nearby apartment building, said she saw at least 15 police officers and an armored SWAT van.

“The police yelled, ‘Come out, and we are not leaving until you come out,’” Tyagi said.

She said she saw a few people come out, then four or five police officers, with their guns drawn, searched the apartment.

As police were interviewing a witness, the witness noticed Redmond returning in a blue Mercury with a white roof, Simons said. Police then arrested Redmond.

Redmond was being held Tuesday afternoon at the Boone County Jail. His bond had not yet been set.