One Man Shot in Moberly

A 49-year-old Moberly man is reportedly in critical condition in a Columbia hospital, and a 79-year-old man is in custody after a shooting in Moberly Thursday night. Moberly Police Chief Troy Link says officers were called to the 300 block of East Burkhart around 8:20.

Link says the two men had a disagreement before the shooting.

According to the probable cause statement, the suspect, Jerry Fitzwater, told police he did not know the victim by name, but admitted he shot him because he believed him to be a drug dealer who had sold drugs to children. Fitzwater had also seen the man earlier in the day at a nearby house that he rents out, and said he had problems with the tenants selling drugs. Fitzwater admitted to firing two rounds, hitting the victim with the second. Police found a small bullet hole near the victim’s temple. Fitzwater also told police that had they not arrived so quickly, he would have shot everyone at the rental house.

Fitzwater is being held at the Randolph County Jail, without bond, on charges of assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon.