No charges filed in January 2023 fatal shooting in Jefferson City

The Cole County prosecuting attorney said he would not file charges in connection to the shooting death of a Jefferson City man.

Michael Burns, 27, was fatally shot on January 14, 2023.

According to a release from Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson, Burns started a fight with another person.

Witnesses told Jefferson City Police investigators that Burns followed the person to the 300 block of Atchison Street.

They said he parked his car in the middle of the street, pulled out a handgun, and started to fight that person.

A third person said Burns pointed his gun toward the person he was fighting.

The third person fired his handgun at Burns, hitting him.

The person who fired his gun told investigators he thought Burns would have killed the other person.

“The Cole County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office carefully scrutinizes any loss of life in our community,” said Thompson in a press release. “However, while this is an unfortunate and tragic incident, the person who fired his weapon was acting in lawful defense of another, and no charges will be brought forward as a result of this investigation.”