Columbia man arrested Saturday after shots fired at car

COLUMBIA — A 21-year-old Columbia man was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of firing a gun at a relative’s car after being told to leave a party.

Hunter Garza faces a charge of unlawful use of a weapon and was being held Monday in the Boone County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

Police were called at about 2:45 a.m. Saturday to 1703 Sun Court in response to a call of shots fired, said Jessie Haden, Columbia police public information officer. The party was being held at that location, she said. 

Witnesses told police that Garza had gotten into a physical altercation at the party and was asked to leave. Afterward, he threw a bottle at a car owned by a relative and then shot the vehicle five times, police reported.

“He did not leave the party gracefully,” Haden said.

Police reported finding .380-caliber shell casings at the scene. Garza was later found at a friend’s house near 5000 Derby Ridge Road, and witnesses told police that Garza had ditched his firearm in a pond north of Brown School Road.

Police said they have not recovered the weapon.

Garza had originally been arrested on suspicion of first-degree tampering for allegedly throwing the gun away, as well as armed criminal action, third-degree assault, first-degree property damage and first-degree trespassing, but all charges were combined into a single charge.