Late Saturday evening, Erik Spencer lost his life in a shooting that stunned students, friends and the Jefferson City community. The 29-year-old graduate of Lincoln University was shot outside the Old Navy store in the 3500-block of Missouri Boulevard around 7:52 p.m. on November 1.
Authorities with the Jefferson City Police Department say Spencer died after the weapon discharge. First responders attempted life-saving efforts, but the young man could not be revived. According to the official press release, investigators have identified the person who fired the gun but are not naming the individual until the Cole County Prosecutor’s Office decides whether to file charges.
Friends and classmates describe Spencer as kind-hearted, generous and full of life. One friend, who knew Spencer through work at the AT&T store in the same shopping center, said the pair were like brothers — and that Spencer had just attended his university’s homecoming tailgate earlier that day. The timing cuts especially deep: he died on what would have been a celebratory weekend for his alma mater.
Details surrounding the shooting remain murky. Some witness reports (not confirmed by police) suggested a verbal argument had broken out between Spencer and his girlfriend as they were leaving a store. Allegedly, a male individual intervened after being told the situation was under control, and then gunshots rang out. While those accounts circulated widely on social media, law-enforcement has not verified the shooter’s identity, background or relationship to the victim or scene. The police have simply stated they’re investigating a weapons offense in the 3500 block of Missouri Boulevard.
In the wake of Spencer’s death, community members have rallied to remember him and call for clarity. A press conference at the Cole County Courthouse was scheduled for Wednesday morning with Spencer’s sisters and close friends in attendance. They’re seeking answers — and justice — for a young man described as “someone you’d want better for.” Schoolmates and residents held impromptu vigils at the plaza, sharing memories of Spencer’s warmth and involvement, and expressing frustration at the limited information released so far.
Investigators continue to piece together the events of the evening. They are reviewing potential surveillance footage of the shopping center and interviewing witnesses. According to police, the Old Navy store where Spencer was shot did reopen Sunday after the investigation at the scene concluded. Both the Jefferson City Police Department and the Cole County Prosecutor’s Office say they’ll provide updates when charges are filed or new findings emerge.
Spencer’s death has cast a shadow over what should have been a weekend of celebration at Lincoln University. But friends say his memory will live on, not in tragedy alone, but in how he cared for those around him — “always giving the shirt off his back,” as one put it. As the investigation continues, the community holds its breath, waiting for more answers while grieving a young life ended too soon.