Authorities have reported the arrest of four individuals this week in connection to the Sunday robbery and fatal shooting of 42-year-old Marine veteran Michael Ryan Burke in Missouri.
According to KRGC, Burke managed to call 911, providing a description of the attackers, and also sent messages to his mother and sister, noted his friend Jerry Reifeiss.
Reifeiss shared that Burke texted his family, saying, “Hey, I’m dying, and I love you.”
Images of Michael Ryan Burke have been circulated on Facebook. (Photo courtesy of Facebook/Michael Ryan Burke)
Court records reveal that the deadly incident took place during a transaction for a cell phone arranged through Facebook Marketplace, according to the news outlet.
A press release dated January 20 stated, “Columbia Police have detained a woman, two men, and a male teenager for their involvement in the robbery and murder of Michael Ryan Burke, which occurred during a shooting on January 18 in the 1400 block of Ridgemont Court.”
The suspects include three 18-year-olds and a juvenile, the release noted.
Generic stock image of police car lights. (Stephen M. Katz/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Alexis Baumann, 18, of Hallsville, was arrested for second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. Kobe Aust, 18, of Columbia, was arrested for second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. Joseph Crane, 18, of Columbia, was arrested for second-degree murder, armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and unlawful use of a weapon. A male juvenile was arrested for second-degree murder, armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and unlawful use of a weapon,” the release explained.
An individual named Tyler Woodsome shared in a Facebook post that Burke had helped encourage him to stay sober.
“This one is hard. The man in the picture below is Michael Ryan Burke. A genuinely good human. A man of God and Country. He was a Marine, a humanitarian, a musician, a gear head and an incredible Martial Artist,” Woodsome wrote.
Michael Ryan Burke, a veteran, was shot and killed in a robbery. (Facebook/ Michael Ryan Burke)
“18 months ago, today, I got sober,” Woodsome wrote. “He played a big role in me staying sober. He would remind me of God’s love and always motivated me to keep it up. He didn’t have to reach out to check in, but he did. Looking to meet up or get me to church, he was always trying to show me the light. Getting messages or calls from Ryan kept me in the fight and helped me through the darkness. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.”
