Charges filed in Wednesday's Jefferson City shooting

The Jefferson City Police Department provided this surveillance photo of Xavies Parks, 25, who is suspected in a shooting that occurred early Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, at the Break Time convenience store on Ellis Boulevard.
The Jefferson City Police Department provided this surveillance photo of Xavies Parks, 25, who is suspected in a shooting that occurred early Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, at the Break Time convenience store on Ellis Boulevard.

Charges have been filed against the suspect in a shooting that occurred Wednesday morning at the Break Time convenience store on Ellis Boulevard in Jefferson City.

The Cole County Prosecutor's Office charged Xavies Parks, 25, of Jefferson City, with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a concealed firearm, all felonies.

As of Friday afternoon, Jefferson City police said Parks was still being sought and should be considered armed and dangerous.

The Jefferson City 911 Center began receiving calls at 3:05 a.m. Wednesday about a disturbance that led to multiple shots being fired and at least one person being injured, according to police reports.

Officers located one victim, a man in his early 20s, lying on the floor of the store and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim reportedly told officers he knew the shooter and identified him as Parks. The victim claimed Parks was staring at him like he wanted to fight and the victim asked Parks why he was staring at him. That's allegedly when Parks fired the shots then ran out of the store.

One witness told officers he, Parks and two others had gone to the store and, a short time after Parks went inside, the witness heard multiple gunshots from inside the store. The witness said he saw Parks run outside the store and back to a nearby apartment. The witness later identified Parks in a photo lineup.

A second witness told officers a similar story and added that Parks had called an acquaintance to pick him up and that person took him to a residence on the west side of Jefferson City. The witness also claimed Parks had said where he discarded a gun, but the witness was unable to find it.

Anyone with information regarding Parks' whereabouts is encouraged to contact JCPD at 573-634-6400 or CrimeStoppers at 573-659-TIPS (8177) or jeffcitycrimestoppers.com.