Jefferson City man charged with unlawful use of a weapon

A Jefferson City man has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon after he allegedly shot at a neighbor who had taken her dog outside to let the animal relieve itself.

Gregory C. Leak, 59, was charged Nov. 1 in Cole County Circuit Court.

A Cole County Sheriff's Department officer had responded at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday to a reported weapons offense on Rackers Road.

The neighbor told the officer she had been taking her dog outside "when her neighbor pointed a gun at her or in her direction and shot the gun," according to a probable cause statement.

"(The woman) stated she heard 'boom, boom' and then (her neighbor) said, 'Take your (expletive) dog in the house,'" according to the statement.

Leak reportedly told an officer "he shot one round off in the ground to show (the neighbor) that he is not playing a game with her."

The officer asked if Leak had told the victim to get her dogs inside the way she alleged he had, and "he said he might have said that," according to the statement.

Leak was charged with exhibiting a 9mm Ruger pistol in an angry or threatening manner, according to a felony complaint document.

Unlawful use of a weapon is a class E felony.

Leak's bond was set at $5,000 surety, which was posted. Leak's arraignment is scheduled for Friday.