Erik Spencer, a 27-year-old Black man, was shot and killed on the evening of November 1, 2025, in the 3500 block of Missouri Boulevard in Jefferson City. Following the fatal shooting, a Cole County grand jury has returned a “no true bill” against the man who pulled the trigger, effectively meaning there will be no criminal charges filed in connection to Spencer’s death.
The man who shot Spencer has not been publicly named, but according to Spencer’s family, the situation unfolded after Erik allegedly intervened during a domestic incident involving a woman. Reports show that Spencer did not behave aggressively toward the man who approached him who family members later identified as an off-duty correctional officer. Despite his non-threatening behavior, Spencer was shot multiple times💔. His family described the shooting as excessive, calling it “overkill.”
Prosecutors claim the grand jury declined charges of voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon, concluding that the shooting was carried out in “lawful defense of another.” With that decision, the investigation has been officially closed, according to Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson.
The incident report from the Jefferson City Police Department noted that calls to 911 reported a man assaulting a woman. When officers arrived, Spencer had already been shot. Spencer’s family continues to mourn and fight for justice, standing firm in their belief that his killing was unnecessary ,avoidable, and racially motivated.
