Charges filed in S. Brooks Drive shooting

A Jefferson City man has been charged in connection with a shooting, Thursday on South Brooks Drive.

Court records show Richard Beekman, 50, of 5428 South Brooks Drive, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and leaving the scene of a shooting.

A Cole County Sheriff's Department probable cause statement shows the shooting took place at Beekman's residence around 12:38 p.m.

Deputies were dispatched to St. Mary's Hospital where the male victim of the shooting was taken for treatment.

The victim said Beekman shot him during an argument between the two in Beekman's driveway.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound that went through his right wrist and into the right side of his abdomen.

The victim also said after Beekman pointed the gun at him, he put his hands up and stepped back and started to turn around just prior to being shot, a story that was later supported by witnesses who had driven the victim to the hospital.

Authorities got a hold of Beekemna by phone and asked him to return to his residence for questioning.

He eventually did come back and was taken into custody along with two potential witnesses.

One of the witnesses said he was present during the shooting and had seen the victim approach Beekman, but didn't actually see Beekman shoot.

Witness accounts varied as to how the incident developed other than the two men got into an argument.

A silver 9mm shell casing was discovered in Beekman's driveway along with blood pools and droplets leading from the end of the driveway to across the street.

During a subsequent search of Beekman's home, a pistol magazine was discovered in the living room containing silver colored shell cased 9mm ammunition similar to what was found in the driveway.

While being interrogated by authorities, Beekman initially admitted to getting into a confrontation with the victim, but didn't say anything about the shooting. After telling Beekman about witnesses saying he had shot the victim, Beekeman admitted to doing the act, but said it was only after the victim came onto his property at him.

Also during the questioning, Beekman gave no reason for leaving after the shooting with two potential witnesses other than the fact one of the witnesses wanted to go to their residence in Eldon. Beekman said he had taken Rumsey Lane out of his neighborhood and the back way to U.S. 54 coming out near the Disabled American Veterans building. Then, after being asked about going to West View Mini Mart, Beekman said he had gotten to the highway using Route D instead.

Beekman claimed the gun he used was a 9mm and remembered seeing it under the seat of a vehicle in the driveway belonging to one of the witnesses. He explained that as the victim approached him in a threatening manner, he grabbed the gun and shot, after which he said he had either thrown the gun on the ground or back in the vehicle he had retrieved it from. As of Friday that gun has still not been found.

Beekman claimed he didn't own a gun despite multiple rounds of 9mm ammunition and the magazine being found at this residence.

Beekman's criminal history shows he had been convicted in 2008 for operating a vehicle with a revoked license and because that's a felony he is not allowed by law to possess a firearm.

As of Friday, Beekman was being held on $75,000 bond in the Cole County Jail.