Shooting Incident in Columbia Leads to Fatal Pursuit
COLUMBIA, Mo. — A shooting on N Douglas Drive resulted in one dead and another severely injured, followed by a police pursuit that ended in a ditch on Highway 63.
Authorities said the incident occurred in the 5100 block of N Douglas Drive around 2:41 p.m. A 65-year-old woman called 911 reporting that her 35-year-old son had been shot, and she herself had also sustained injuries.
When officers arrived, they identified the shooter as 32-year-old Steven A. Swanson, a relative of both victims. The 35-year-old man was pronounced dead on the scene, while the woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Following the shooting, Swanson fled in a blue Ford Bronco, leading law enforcement on a pursuit into Randolph County. Missouri State Highway Patrol, with assistance from the Boone County Sheriff's Office and Columbia Police Department, deployed tire deflation devices to halt the vehicle.
The pursuit ended when Swanson lost control and crashed into a ditch along Highway 63. Authorities reported that Swanson fired at a highway patrol vehicle but did not hit any officers, who did not return fire.
After the vehicle came to a stop, Swanson did not exit and failed to respond to commands. A drone was later used to assess the situation, revealing that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation is ongoing, with lane closures expected as authorities process the scene.