Marquis Booker, a reserve Missouri linebacker, has been suspended indefinitely by coach Gary Pinkel after his arrest on a felony gun charge.
Occupants in a car with Booker when he was pulled over by police around 4 a.m. Sunday — Tigers All-America wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and starting linebacker Sean Weatherspoon — were questioned and released.
That was the case as well with MU recruit George White, and a female in the car with the players, Jessica Reaves.
Chad Moller, assistant athletic director and sports information director, told The Star on Monday that Booker has been suspended indefinitely from the football team. “That means he cannot practice, although academic services will continue to be available to him,” Moller said.
The action is common policy when an arrest is made on a felony statute.
Columbia police said Booker, 20, a sophomore out of Ardmore, Okla., was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon and for an underage liquor law infraction. Booker is free on $4,800 bond.
Moller said Pinkel would have no comment “at this time on the situation.”
At 3:50 a.m. Sunday, police answered a disturbance call at the Gateway of Columbia apartments in south Columbia. Police said witnesses claimed that during an argument between several persons on a second-floor balcony and several persons in a parking lot, Booker retrieved a handgun from a car and “threatened to light the place up.”
Booker and the four other persons named in police reports were leaving the scene by car as police arrived. Police followed the car, stopped it and during a search found a loaded 9 mm handgun under the front passenger seat. Police said Booker said the gun was his.
Join the discussion
Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open debate is the goal, but please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as violation" link to notify a KansasCity.com editor. Thanks for your feedback.