Jefferson City police investigating another shooting at local nightclub

Originally published June 10, 2012 at 1:35 p.m., updated June 10, 2012 at 1:35 p.m.

One person was arrested and another was still being sought as Jefferson City police investigate shooting at a club where numerous violent crimes have occurred in the past.

According to police reports, at 4:22 a.m. Sunday, an officer patrolling near the 2300 block of Industrial Drive heard a gunshot fired from the area of Club Motivation, 2425 Industrial Drive.

The officer proceeded in that direction to investigate.

As the officer arrived at Club Motivation, he heard several more shots being fired.

There was a large crowd and several vehicles on the lot when the officer arrived.

Witnesses at the scene described a black SUV occupied by three individuals had just left the area, and that the occupants of the vehicle were responsible for shooting at an employee of the club.

No one was injured by the gunfire.

Officers attempted to pursue the vehicle, but could not immediately locate it.

At 4:24 a.m. there was a report of a single vehicle injury accident in the 200 block of Booneville Road.

The vehicle involved was a black SUV.

The driver, Phillip Morgan, 31, Jefferson City remained at the scene while a female and another male who were inside the vehicle fled the scene.

The police department's K-9 unit was called out to assist in locating the fleeing individuals.

During the ensuing investigation, two firearms, several ounces of marijuana, and a large amount of currency were recovered from the wrecked vehicle.

K9 Buzz was able to track and flush out the female who had fled from the accident scene.

After interviews with officers, the female was allowed to leave and is not facing charges.

Morgan is facing charges of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and resisting arrest.

He was treated at a local hospital, then released into police custody and taken to the Cole County Jail.

The male passenger who is still being sought is described as a black male in his 20s, approximately 6’ tall, thin build, short hair, wearing a yellow American Eagle t-shirt.

This subject may go by the moniker “Slim”.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact police at 634-6400, Crimestoppers at 659-TIPS or on their website at jeffcitycrimestoppers.com

More like this story

JCLifer 11 months, 2 weeks ago

What kind of people are out partying at 4:30 in the morning? Time to close this den of thugs down. It is a blight on our town and we need to tell these people they are not welcome around here.

RobHunterJohnson 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I agree! Thanks JC Rob

JCsleeper 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Let 'em party at Algoa.

John 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Okay, as I understand what you're writing is that anyone who parties till the wee hours is a thug and is not welcom in Jefferson City? When I was younger, it was not unusual for my cohorts and I to be out all night. We never created a disturbance nor took potshots at anyone. If we had, we would have hit them with the first shot. It isn't the color of skin, the school they attend, nor anything like that nor is it because they enjoy having a good time till the wee hours. It is the result of alcohol consumption, drugs, and a lack of any kind of understanding of authority, courtesy, and kindness.

RobHunterJohnson 11 months, 2 weeks ago

John, let them close this location down, it is not about being out, it is a about a constant lack of control at a place called Club Motivation. They could be Drunk, They could have fired guns, They caused damage to private property, could have harmed themselves, tresspassed, and the list continues on. I tended bar in Jefferson City, we were required to stop the band at 10 on the patio? Keep our crowd under control, and keep tabs on our parking lot. The owners are not doing their JOB. This business has been in the News Tribune before for this kind of behavior, sooner or later this will be a bigger problem with the gun play! Close them up for good. Rob

Hugs 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I think RobHunter is right-on with what should be the regular ordinance should be. Tell it like it is and should be, RobHunterJohnson.

RobHunterJohnson 11 months, 1 week ago

Johnsonw, this is not about racism, it is about the lack of control on the owners part! The council should look into this matter, because as I said this will be a problem at some point. I could list some of the incidents over the past couple of years, but the people who run the establishment know, we probably do not know all the story, just the items reported. Rob

online_editor 11 months, 1 week ago

I removed a comment that contained a personal jab at other forum participants. Please keep the focus on the issues involved in the discussion, not the personalities of others commenting. Feel free to elaborate on your opinions in another post with that in mind. Thanks. --Rick Brown, online editor, News Tribune

mia 11 months, 1 week ago

I am so disappointed in the JC and surrounding areas. We have friends from the lake that say they turn on the nightly news only to see more and more shootings around here. And they are from St. Louis. It used to be such a nice, quiet town. The problems are even bleeding over into the surrounding "bedroom" communities. I don't know what the answer is other than moving. But thats another problem in itself.

gofish 11 months, 1 week ago

1) I'm happy to hear there was an officer in the area patrolling. In the past it seems this area was not covered well by the JCPD. 2) Eventually, the police WILL be investigating serious injuries and/or homicides - plural 3) Stray bullets may end up hitting property in the West Main/BelAir area. 4) The answer to this problem my lie within State liquor control laws. 5) The city council needs to study what other towns have done to address this issue. Clearly this business is a public nuisance.
6) The council spent countless hours to control a strip club, a sex shop, and tattoo parlors, none of which involve gun shots. Are their priorities misquided?

MO4LIFE 11 months, 1 week ago

@gofish State Liquor Control has no authority because they are classified as a after hours juice bar and they cannot sell Liquor. The problem is they need an officer out there at the door to keep the customers from bringing liquor in from the outside because the owner allows them to do so. The city needs to pass a law that says any after hours nightclub/juice bar must pay for a officer to work the front door to check for compliance of liquor and firearms laws for a certain period of time after there has been a shooting or any type of violation that requires police to investigate illegal actions at your place of business.. KIND OF LIKE A BUSINESS ON PROBATION! That would stop the problems because people will either obey the law or they won't support it because of the fear of jail or because of the police presence at the business. This is what the local law enforcement does in the big cities!

gofish 11 months, 1 week ago

@Moe Lifer thanks for the info, never knew how this thing operated past 1:30am. Any reputable business owner would not want this type of thing happening at their business and would take aggressive steps to stop it. Clearly, the city council needs to legislate a way to prevent this type of scenario from operating in the city and then prosecute the owner. I can't believe this doesn't fall under some type of public nuisance ordinance. Not to mention drunk in public.

Festus_Hagen 11 months, 1 week ago

WHY , are people allowed to be here at 5 in the morning drinking and partying ? The bars have to shut down at 1:30 , the evil tattoo parlor cannot stay open past 12 , why is this allowed to go on well within sight of a busy roadway where everyone can see ? This is thugs being thugs. We need to nip it now or we will have bigger problems later. JCPD did a good job, I'm glad they were there and got some of this scum . Now if the judges do their part and throw the book at 'em we have what's called justice. It's up to YOU Judges ! Do YOUR part on these violent criminals before they kill innocents !

MO4LIFE 11 months, 1 week ago

This "juice" bar has no liquor license and can't sell liquor!

Festus_Hagen 11 months, 1 week ago

I know that, you know that . Why are people allowed to sit in an open parking lot and drink, as well as bring it inside ?

JCLifer 11 months, 1 week ago

I cannot believe that we have laws to harass otherwise decent citizens all the time for having a small sign in their yard, or that they didn't have all the brush in the yard cleaned up one week after a 100-year ice storm, or that a business cannot have a digital sign, but it is OK for these clowns to be out partying at all hours of the night and have a regular history of shootings and violence, but nothing can be done!!! What is wrong with this town? Why do these thugs have more rights than law-abiding citizens?

I want our city "leaders" to grow some spine and do their job. Get this trash out of here. This is supposed to be a family-friendly town.

kentheco 11 months, 1 week ago

The police have to be careful or they'll end up on the attorney general's racial profiling list.

MO4LIFE 11 months, 1 week ago

No problem there Jeff City is not a profiling city they are actually quite fair when it comes to policing. Even by the State Stats

gofish 11 months, 1 week ago

If the thugs happen to be of a certain race......so be it.

JCLifer 11 months, 1 week ago

Who cares what race they are, or what brand if shoes they wear? Thugs are thugs. Run em out of town or lock em up.

TickledPink 11 months, 1 week ago

I think you're a bit misinformed. Club Motivation has nothing to do with Top Hat and I can pretty much guarantee tthere's no crossover patronage going on. This place is not serving our community in any way. The cost of police response I'm sure outweighs the possible revenue it might bring. I've talked with some of the people who have done "security" there in the past and the stories would make your hair stand up. Want to keep the party going after the bars close? Have an after party at someone's house. Why CM is allowed to keep its doors open is beyond me.

RobHunterJohnson 11 months, 1 week ago

Take a look at the tree they took out fleeing from something. Rob

MsMe 11 months, 1 week ago

I've been there ONCE and only ONCE it's the lack of security. This is the afterspot people(not only blacks) go to after the actual clubs closes. They don't sell liquor so people come already drunk.

JCNYer 11 months ago

I've driven a cab here for 3 1/2 years, and whether it's been Club Motivation, or the College Complex, these problems have continued. Several years ago, I was dispatched for a call there only to find out later, while enroute, the person I was supposed to pick up was arrested for shooting at a car leaving the parking lot. It all sounds so simple, "stop them from bringing liquor" but most of the times the alcohol is brought in a soda or juice bottle. Callaway County stopped the after hours club across the river by passing a law stating that they couldn't operate the 63 Sports Complex with out a deputy present, and then the sherriff refused to have one of the deputies stand guard instead of patrolling the county. This is a problem that will keep occuring unless the club is shut down. It's really not racial profiling if crimes continue to be committed there.

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