Following a Sept. 11 disturbance at the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Lofts that resulted in charges for two non-students, Chancellor Zora Mulligan issued a statement addressing the incident and detailing updates to campus safety protocols.
“I’m writing to provide information about an incident that occurred late last Wednesday night/early last Thursday morning in the Lofts,” she said in the statement emailed to students on Sept. 17.
According to Mulligan, three non-students were let into the residential building by a resident and attempted to start a fight with a group of students in the game room. Residence Life staff intervened to de-escalate the situation, chasing the non-residents out of the building. Initial reports indicated a gun fell out of one non-student's waistband onto the sidewalk as he exited, while another non-student possessed a knife.
Police reviewed security camera footage and conducted interviews, leading to criminal charges against two of the individuals. One was charged with brandishing a firearm, and another was charged with property damage after doing donuts in a truck in the parking lot.
Mulligan acknowledged and apologized for a delay in notifying the campus community.
“This information should have been shared sooner, and I apologize that it was not,” she wrote. “To ensure this doesn't happen again, our incident response process has been revised to include an immediate analysis of what level of communication is appropriate in the circumstances. Residence Life staff are also reminding Lofts residents about the importance of not allowing unescorted guests into the building.”
Court records show that Levi Hodgson, 20, West Plains, was arrested and charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon by exhibiting a gun in an angry or threatening manner and released after posting a $10,000 surety bond. Hodgson is scheduled for arraignment and a bond appearance Monday before 37th Circuit Associate Judge R. David Ray. He is represented by Special Public Defender Kenneth Dominic of Cabool.
Ashur B. Smotherman, 18, West Plains, was charged with felony first-degree property damage. Police reported Smotherman admitted to returning to the scene and intentionally doing donuts in the parking lot, causing about $1,600 in damage. He was also released on a $10,000 surety bond and is set to appear Monday before Judge Ray. He is represented by attorney Jacob Garrett of West Plains, according to court records.
Both cases are being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Rizwan Ahad.
Police reported Hodgson was also allegedly involved in an Aug. 29 assault on an unhoused man in a parking lot off Preacher Roe Boulevard, the former site of Ranch House Grill & Bar. The incident was recorded by a bystander and circulated on social media.
Officers dispatched to the scene spoke with the victim, who had visible injuries but declined to press charges or seek medical treatment.
After reviewing the video footage, officers identified Hodgson as a suspect and interviewed him. A misdemeanor charge of peace disturbance pending in municipal court remained under review by the West Plains Police Department.
