A tragic incident unfolded as a man lost his life in a shooting at his residence while engaging in what he believed to be a legitimate transaction on the Facebook Marketplace. Michael Ryan Burke, a 42-year-old U.S. Marine veteran, made a final call to 911 and sent a farewell text to his family before succumbing to the gunshot wounds inflicted during the sale of his iPhone at his Missouri home, according to the Columbia Police Department.
The fatal incident occurred around 8:15 pm local time when law enforcement responded to reports of gunshots at Ridgemont Court in Columbia. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Michael inside the residence with critical gunshot injuries. He was swiftly taken to a hospital but tragically passed away due to the severity of his wounds.
Despite being injured, Burke managed to contact emergency services and provide a description of the alleged perpetrators before receiving medical assistance. As he awaited help, he sent heartfelt messages to his mother and sister, expressing his love and bidding them goodbye, as recounted by his close friend Jerry Reifeiss.
Subsequently, on January 20, authorities apprehended three 18-year-olds and one juvenile male in connection with Burke’s death. The suspects, Kobe Aust, Joseph Crane, Alexis Baumann, and the juvenile, face charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and first-degree burglary. They are currently held without bond at the Boone County Jail, with the juvenile being detained at the Boone County Juvenile Office.
The investigation revealed that Burke had communicated with one of the suspects through Facebook messages to arrange the sale of his iPhone 15 Pro. The messages included the exchange of address details, with the suspect confirming their presence at the location shortly before the tragic incident occurred.
Reflecting on Burke’s final moments, his friend emphasized his selfless nature and commitment to ensuring justice for the incident. Burke’s act of reaching out to his family in his last moments exemplified his caring personality, as he wanted to ensure his loved ones knew his feelings before his passing.