Columbia police arrest man accused of threating business patrons with a gun

The Columbia Police Department (CPD) arrested a man accused of threatening business patrons with a gun on July 9.

CPD took Daverius L. Jones, 22, of Independence, into custody after getting reports that he was allegedly threatening people with a weapon near the 3200 block of Clark Lane on Tuesday.

A probable cause statement reported that security footage from the business showed him entering the building carrying two children, while one walked beside him. Police noted that a handgun could be seen in his hoodie pocket in the footage.

Witnesses told CPD that Jones could be heard threatening to kill everyone inside the building.

Court documents noted that he exited the business, placed the children in a white Chevrolet van and then attempted to re-enter the building. Witnesses claimed that Jones was unable to get back in and continued pointing the weapon at the patrons from the car that he and the children were in.

Once CPD arrived on the scene, the man was found in the Chevy and detained. According to the probable cause statement, one Glock .380 caliber handgun was found on his person and another 9 mm handgun was found on the floor of the vehicle with a fully loaded magazine. Officers noted that all three children were in the back seat during that time.

Jones is charged with three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. He is booked in the Boone County Jail.