Hallsville man pleads not guilty to former brother-in-law’s killing

COLUMBIA — A Hallsville man charged with the murder of his former brother-in-law pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday in the Boone County Courthouse.

William P. Clinch, 37, appeared in court before Judge Kevin Crane on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action stemming from the September shooting of Jeremy Bohannon of Rocheport. Clinch was indicted by a grand jury on Friday.

Columbia police said Clinch chased Bohannon across a McDonald’s parking lot, at 3206 Clark Lane, and shot him in the leg and head multiple times with a semi-automatic handgun.

Police arrested Clinch at the scene, and Bohannon, 32, was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Bohannon had been married to Clinch’s sister Amanda. According to court documents, the couple, who had three children, had recently divorced at the time of the shooting death. Amanda had custody of the children and Bohannon was granted supervised visitation rights every week at McDonald’s and the Columbia Public Library.