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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">July 30, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Brittany Hilderbrand
<br />Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7671
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov
<br />
<br />Jeff Pitts
<br />Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.817.5049
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Update: Columbia Police arrest second suspect related to the homicide near South 8th Street and Locust Street, July 25</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia Police have arrested Marlin Cortez Johnson, 24, of Columbia, for his involvement in the homicide that took place near South 8th Street and Locust Street on July 25. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnson has been arrested for the charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action and will be remanded in the custody of the Boone County Jail.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On July 25, at approximately 12:40 a.m., Columbia Police responded to a report of shots fired where officers learned one gunshot victim was taken in a private vehicle to a local hospital for advanced medical care before officers and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The victim was later identified as Joseph Hecht, 38, of Sturgeon, Mo., who died due to injuries from a gunshot wound on Saturday, July 25.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the investigation officers learned that two suspects were involved. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first suspect was identified as Kesan Tyree McNeal, 23, of Columbia. He was arrested for 2nd-degree murder and remanded in the custody of the Boone County Jail on July 26.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia police would like to say thank you to the public and downtown businesses for their assistance in this case. This is an ongoing investigation and there are no additional details available at this time. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you know something, say something. Please call the Columbia police department at 573-874-7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573.875.TIPS.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Case Number 2020-006570</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Previous Press Release(s):</span></p>
<p><strong>Columbia police holds press conference relating to July 25th homicide</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6959"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6959</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Update: Columbia police identifies second suspect related to the homicide near South 8th Street and Locust Street, July 25</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6953"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6953</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>UPDATE: Victim with gunshot injury dies and one arrest made from July 25 shooting in area of South 8th Street and Locust Street</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6951"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6951</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Columbia police investigate shots fired in area of South 8th Street and Locust Street, July 25</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6950"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=6950</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p></div>
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<div class="attachments">This release has the following attachments:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=2488">Marlin Cortez Johnson</a></div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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