Teen charged in Marine's killing had threatened 'shoot up' person weeks earlier

Kobe Aust, 18, is accused of killing Ryan Burke, 42, during a Facebook Marketplace scam to steal his iPhone

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A Missouri teenager accused of killing a decorated U.S. Marine inside the man's own home after setting him up in a Facebook Marketplace scam allegedly threatened to kill a person just weeks earlier, telling the individual in texts and phone calls that he "would shoot up his house," according to court documents. Kobe Aust, 18, is already charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action in connection with the shooting death of Ryan Burke, 42, on Jan. 18 at his house in Columbia, Missouri. Now he faces a first-degree harassment charge for the alleged phone threats he made toward another individual living in the area.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of violent crime related to online sales and purchase scams, as well as the need for better mental health resources and intervention for young offenders who exhibit threatening behavior. The alleged threats made by Aust weeks before the fatal shooting of Burke raise concerns about the perpetrator's state of mind and whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy.

The details

According to court documents, Aust allegedly told the harassment victim that he would "crunch" him on Dec. 14, 2025, with the victim telling police that "crunch/crunching meant Aust would kill [him]." Investigators were shown messages in which Aust was allegedly telling the victim he would "beat" him up and that the individual would get his "a---" handed to him by Aust if they were to ever fight. The victim told police they "believed Aust was in possession of a firearm" and had seen a video of Aust "holding and showing a firearm with extended magazine" on his Facebook page. The victim said he had been hiding in the basement out of fear of what Aust would do to him, believing Aust would "shoot and kill" him.

  • On Dec. 14, 2025, Aust allegedly threatened to "crunch" the victim, which the victim said meant Aust would kill him.
  • On Jan. 18, 2026, Aust and three other teens allegedly went to Burke's home "under the ruse" of wanting to buy his iPhone 15 Pro, resulting in Burke's shooting death.

The players

Kobe Aust

An 18-year-old Missouri resident who is accused of killing a decorated U.S. Marine, Ryan Burke, during a Facebook Marketplace scam and also faces a charge for allegedly threatening to "shoot up" another person's home weeks earlier.

Ryan Burke

A 42-year-old decorated U.S. Marine who was shot and killed inside his own home in Columbia, Missouri, during an alleged Facebook Marketplace scam to steal his iPhone 15 Pro.

Joseph Crane

An 18-year-old defendant who is accused of going inside Burke's home with a juvenile suspect and shooting Burke while stealing his iPhone.

Alexis Baumann

An 18-year-old defendant who allegedly confessed to driving Crane and the juvenile suspect to Burke's home, where she heard three gunshots before they fled the scene.

Juvenile suspect

A minor who is accused of going inside Burke's home with Crane and shooting Burke while stealing his iPhone.

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What they’re saying

“Hey, I'm dying and I love you,”

— Ryan Burke (KRCG)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on March 26 whether to allow Kobe Aust out on bail for the felony harassment charge.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the growing dangers of online sales scams and the need for better mental health resources and intervention for young offenders who exhibit threatening behavior. It also underscores the devastating impact of gun violence on families and communities.