A Jefferson City man pleaded guilty to a 2022 weapon charge this week.
Deajuan Dabney, 27, pleaded guilty Monday in Cole County court to exhibiting a deadly weapon. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement said the 911 Center received multiple calls of gunshots heard Feb. 5, 2022, at an apartment complex in the 500 block of Ellis Boulevard. A shell casing was found, and witnesses reported several people ran into one apartment after the gunshots were heard. Officers went to the apartment the people ran into and found 10 people there, but many did not cooperate with investigators, according to authorities.
Eventually, officers reported they were able to confirm two people had been between buildings and at least one of these individuals fired several rounds from a handgun. A description of the suspect was given and while still at the crime scene, they spotted the suspect, later identified as Dabney. Officers tried to get Dabney to stop walking away from them, but he allegedly kept going.
As he continued to walk away, witnesses exited the apartment and reportedly yelled to officers that the man walking away from them, Dabney, was the one who allegedly fired the shots. Officers said Dabney kept walking away despite repeated orders to stop. More officers came and blocked Dabney's path until he did stop and was taken into custody.
Investigators found Dabney lived in the apartment complex and his apartment had been the site of two prior weapon offenses. Two unspent .45-caliber bullets were allegedly found in Dabney's coat pocket, and authorities said they matched the shell casing they found earlier.
Officers applied for and got a search warrant to go through Dabney's apartment where they reportedly found a .45-caliber pistol, hidden under the kitchen stove.
Adora Bear, Dabney's girlfriend, was found in a bedroom and authorities said she claimed she was the one renting the apartment, not Dabney. She also allegedly said no weapons were in the apartment.
A plea or trial setting for Bear, who has been charged with hindering prosecution of a felony and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, is set for next week.