Columbia man pleads guilty in death of friend
NEW BLOOMFIELD — Shawn Long, a 19-year-old Columbia man accused in the accidental shooting of his friend last January, pleaded guilty Tuesday to 2nd-Degree Involuntary Manslaughter, a class E Felony.
According to court documents, officers were called to the 5400 block of Irma Drive on Jan. 17, 2021, where they found Robert Angel Lauer suffering from a gunshot wound. There were a number of witnesses to the shooting, including several juveniles and a guardian. Both the victim and the suspect were residents of the home, and witnesses said the two were the best of friends.
During questioning, Long told police that he picked up a gun and pointed it at Lauer in a “playful manner” and the gun fired. A witness said he saw Long point the gun at Lauer and the gun went off.
Long was being held in the Boone County Jail on $250,000 bond. 2nd-Degree Involuntary Manslaughter is a class E Felony, punishable by four years imprisonment or a one-year jail term depending on the case. The court might also impose a fine of about $10,000. There is also the possibility of probation.
