Teenager wounded in early morning shooting

A teenager was shot early this morning in central Columbia, according to a Columbia Police Department release.

At about 12:56 a.m., Columbia police responded to a report that someone had been shot at 120 W. Ash St. Upon arriving, they found a 17-year-old man had been shot twice in the torso with a small caliber hand gun. He was transported by ambulance to University Hospital, the release said.

While interviewing witnesses about the shooting, officers were unable to identify a suspect, but did discover that the incident was related to a report from earlier that evening of shots fired in the 1100 block of Grand Avenue, according to the release. At about 8:23 p.m. Friday, officers responded there and were told a group of individuals had been arguing in the area and that two shots were fired. Two spent .22 caliber casings on the street were found in the street, the release said.

Interviews with witnesses from the Ash Street shooting helped officers determine that Coty Thomas Galbreath, 17, of Columbia, was possibly connected with the shots fired on Grand Avenue. Galbreath was arrested shortly thereafter on suspicion of being involved with that incident, the release said.

The Missourian will provide more information as it becomes available.