Suspect in Jefferson City shooting arrested in Hazelwood

Xavies Parks
Xavies Parks

A suspect wanted in connection with a shooting this month in Jefferson City has been apprehended.

The Jefferson City Police Department was notified Thursday night that the Hazelwood Police Department had located Xavies Parks, 25, of Jefferson City, and arrested him without incident, JCPD spokesman David Williams said in a news release.

Parks was returned to Jefferson City and treated for a gunshot wound to his leg suffered during the shooting.

Charges have been filed against Parks in connection with the shooting that occurred Oct. 14 at the Break Time convenience store on Ellis Boulevard.

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

The Jefferson City 911 Center began receiving calls early the morning of Oct. 14 about a disturbance that led to multiple shots fired and at least one person 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 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.