A Columbia man who publicly urged youths to stay away from violence had been attempting to rob a home when he was fatally shot during a confrontation with a resident.
Boone County Sheriff's Department said in a news release that 26-year-old Ahmonta Harris "unlawfully" entered the home Saturday near the Lake of the Woods Golf Course. The release said Harris was killed when he threatened an armed 20-year-old resident. No one else was hurt.
The Columbia Missourian reported that Harris had past conviction for third-degree assault and property damage.
Harris, who was also a rapper performing under the stage name Monnie Man, frequently attended community meetings and was known for organizing an event dubbed the "Fireworks War" as a way to bring people together. Authorities decried the event as dangerous and vowed to stop it from happening again.
He urged young people to stay away from violence at a Silence the Violence forum in 2012. In 2017, he was a leader in the creation of a community center in the northern neighborhood.
A vigil will be held in memory of Harris’ life at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening in Douglass Park. Following that, a memorial concert will be played at 9 p.m. at Rose Music Hall. North Village Recording posted on Facebook Harris would have headlined his first concert on Thursday.