REPUBLIC, MO (Edited News Release/KY3) – A judge has sentenced a Republic, Missouri, man who investigators say was providing security at a private party where four people were wounded by gunfire.

Timothy Johnell Smith, 37, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. The judge sentenced him to 23 months in prison.

The incident occurred on December 31 and January 1, 2024. Deputies from the Greene County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for service at a private party at The Barnhouse in Springfield. Investigators say Smith and his wife had been hired to provide security at the New Year’s Eve party. Investigators say when deputies arrived at the scene, they received another call about shots fired.

Six people were injured; four victims suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals. A witness at the party told deputies that Smith tried to break up a fight involving several people and fired an AR-style rifle into the ceiling. Witnesses reported hearing four to five more gunshots. Deputies found the rifle near a storage area on the upper level of the location. Deputies interviewed Smith, the affidavit said, who told them he was carrying the AR-style rifle for “intimidation.”

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to possess a firearm or ammunition. Smith has prior felony convictions for burglary, receiving stolen property and theft of a motor vehicle.

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