In the early morning hours of February 8, 2019, a tragic series of events unfolded in Jefferson City, Missouri, leading to the death of 63-year-old Clifton Withers. The incident began to come to light at approximately 3:49 a.m. when the Cole County Sheriff's Department received a harrowing 911 call from a woman who reported that both she and her husband, Clifton Withers, had been shot.
During the call, she identified their assailant.
Deputies were dispatched to the 4500 block of Route E, where they discovered two victims. Clifton Withers was found deceased at the scene, while the female victim was transported to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment of her injuries. She was later released from the hospital. The information provided by the surviving victim immediately launched a search for the suspect and the vehicle he was driving.
A Jefferson City Police Officer successfully located the suspect's vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver, later identified as 21-year-old Austin Corrigan, refused to pull over, leading to a police pursuit. The chase came to an end in Holts Summit after Corrigan's vehicle wrecked. He then attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended after a short foot pursuit and taken into custody without further incident.
Following his arrest, Austin Corrigan was booked into the Cole County Sheriff's Department. The Cole County Prosecutor formally charged him with Murder in the second degree, Assault in the first degree, and Armed Criminal Action. He was held without bond.
