Burglary, assault leads to shots fired and two arrests

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Two people have been arrested after a burglary, assault and shot-fired incident in north Columbia Tuesday morning. The incident happened at a home on Navaho Avenue.

According to Columbia Police spokeswoman Officer Latisha Stroer, the call came in just before 8:30 a.m. when someone reported a burglary in progress. While in route, dispatch was told that there was a person inside the house.

The investigation revealed Phillip Warren Jr. arrived at the back door of the victim's house at around 8:10 a.m. He contacted a 28-year-old female victim in which he had been in a relationship with. He was trying to get his identification back.

That female victim opened the back door of the house slightly to speak to the suspect when he forcefully opened the door, caused the door to hit the victim in the face. Warren entered the house and punched the woman twice in the face.

The victim yelled for her brother, Christopher Watkins, who was in the house at the time of the assault. Watkins grabbed a handgun and shot at Warren who was assaulting his sister. Watkins fired several at Warren from inside the house and then outside of the house. Officers located shell casing in three different locations.

Warren fled the scene on foot.

Officers found multiple bullet holes in Warren's vehicle that was parked outside of the victim's house.

Warren was arrested minutes later for first degree burglary and third degree domestic assault. Watkins was arrested at the house for felony first degree unlawful use of a weapon.