Jefferson City man convicted of robbery, shooting

A Jefferson City man was convicted Tuesday for his role in an October 2011 shooting that took place after a failed robbery attempt.

Demetrius Boyce, 26, of 717 E. McCarty St., was found guilty of first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and armed criminal action by a Cole County Jury after a two-day trial.

Sentencing will take place at a later date.

Boyce faces up to life in prison for the robbery and armed criminal action charges.

Jefferson City Police Department said Boyce used a handgun to shoot a male victim in the 500 block of Lafayette Street.

The victim told police he offered to give Boyce a ride after Boyce knocked on the victim's door about saying he had been involved in an accident.

While the two were riding in the victim's vehicle, Boyce displayed a handgun and demanded money.

Boyce repeatedly told the victim he would shoot him in the head and demanded the victim's ATM card.

The victim, in fear for his life, told Boyce he didn't have an ATM card, so he gave him money and drove back to the area of his house.

The victim then ran from his vehicle and onto the porch of his residence to call 911. The victim was shot in the leg as he fled.

According to police reports, after a number of leads were developed and surveillance was conducted on Boyce, SWAT members served a search/arrest warrant on his residence and he was taken into custody without incident.