Man wanted in connection with gun assault turns himself in

COLUMBIA — A man identified as a suspect in an assault that occurred early Sunday morning has turned himself in to police, according to a release from the Columbia Police Department.

At approximately 3:45 a.m., Columbia police officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Citadel Drive after a 911 caller said there was a disturbance involving a gun, according to the release. When officers arrived at the scene, a man ran south from the residence.

Witnesses told officers at the scene that a 24-year-old female and a 37-year-old male had been assaulted by a man who used a handgun to strike the male victim in the face, according to the release. After striking the man, the suspect then placed the muzzle of the handgun against the male victim's forehead. Officers identified Richard E. Wright, 42, as a suspect in the incident.

Wright turned himself in to a Boone County sheriff's deputy at 7:26 a.m. Sunday, according to the release. Wright, who was already wanted for failing to appear on traffic charges and for a probation violation warrant, told the deputy that he was tired of running, the release said. Police had been searching for Wright since he was identified as a suspect; he was being sought on suspicion of third-degree domestic assault, second-degree assault, armed criminal action and being a felon in possession of a concealable firearm, according to the release.

Police have not yet recovered the handgun used in the assault, the release said. Anyone with information is asked to submit it to the CrimeStoppers Web site, 875tips.com.