A decorated Marine veteran was fatally shot during a Facebook Marketplace transaction at his home on Sunday, Jan. 18, and four teenagers have been arrested in the case, authorities and family friends said. The victim, identified as 42-year-old Michael Ryan Burke, called 911 to describe his attackers and texted loved ones a final goodbye before he died at a hospital.
Police said the encounter began as a sale involving a cellphone at Burke’s residence and quickly turned into a robbery. Officers and medics responded late Sunday and found Burke gravely wounded. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. By midweek, Columbia police announced arrests in the killing and described a swift investigation that pulled together witness accounts, surveillance video and messages tied to the sale. Friends said Burke, a Marine veteran who later studied at the University of Missouri, spent his final moments trying to help investigators while assuring his mother and sister that he loved them.
Detectives identified the arrested suspects as Alexis Baumann, 18; Kobe Aust, 18; and Joseph Crane, 18; along with an unnamed juvenile male. All four were booked on counts that include second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. Crane faces additional counts of unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. The juvenile also faces a weapons count. Investigators said a stolen phone tied to the meetup was quickly resold; officials have not released the model of the weapon used or the number of shots fired. Court documents outlining probable cause were filed under seal for the juvenile and are pending full release for the adults.
According to summaries shared with local outlets, Burke arranged the meeting through Facebook Marketplace for a phone sale at his Columbia address. After he was shot, he managed to call 911 and give a brief description of those involved, then sent a short message to relatives. Officers canvassed the neighborhood for cameras and interviewed nearby residents as evidence markers dotted the driveway and walkway. Police did not report any injuries to other individuals at the home and have not said whether the suspects arrived on foot or in a vehicle. The Boone County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death following an autopsy.
Friends described Burke as a veteran who remained service-minded after leaving the Marines, taking part in volunteer projects and later pursuing studies in psychology and sociology at the University of Missouri. A fraternity brother said Burke often mentored younger students and stayed connected to veterans’ groups. Neighbors on the block said patrol cars and investigators remained at the scene for hours Sunday night and into Monday, with officers collecting doorbell footage and photographing the approach to Burke’s front door. “He was trying to help even at the end,” a friend said, recalling Burke’s 911 call and last texts.
Columbia police said the investigation is ongoing and that additional evidence, including digital records from social platforms and any resale kiosks, is being analyzed. Prosecutors are reviewing the case for formal charges and initial court settings for the adult suspects, who were held in Boone County without bond as of Wednesday. The juvenile suspect remained in custody under juvenile authorities. Officials said they would release more details as affidavits are processed and autopsy results return.
As of Wednesday evening, the three adult suspects were listed in county custody and the juvenile was detained pending hearings. The next milestone is prosecutors’ filing decisions and initial appearances in Boone County Circuit Court, followed by discovery that will detail the timeline of the robbery and shooting.
Author note: Last updated January 22, 2026.