Columbia police look to federal prosecution as deterrent to gun violence
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Police Department is looking to send gun-related cases to federal prosecutors, saying the possibility of mandatory prison time could serve as a deterrent to violent crime.
Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude outlined that strategy during a Nov. 6 news conference following the Oct. 31 downtown shooting, in which investigators said at least seven people firing weapons and nearly 30 shots were discharged.
“We are going to send as many people for federal prosecution as possible. In the federal system, you are guaranteed to serve a minimum amount of time. And that is a huge deterrent and has been in the past, and we will continue to do that,” Schlude said. “I'm very appreciative of Matt Price and the U.S. Attorney's Office, because they are staffed up and ready to take as many cases as we can refer.”
The Halloween shooting offers a recent example of how that strategy is being put into practice. CPD arrested eight people, seven men and one juvenile male, in the eight days following the shooting. Two of the men, Detravion Latrell Coats, 21, and Treyvale Damarcus Cain-Raybon, 21, have since been charged in federal court.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Coats was seen on video firing 10 shots over a vehicle at a group of people. Cain Raybon was also allegedly caught on video pointing a gun at another suspect, then running behind a vehicle and firing twice. Investigators also recovered shell casings in the areas where each man was seen firing.
Both men are accused of possessing ammunition despite having prior felony convictions, which is prohibited under federal law.
“What happened in the early morning hours of Halloween is unacceptable. Our investigation indicates that at least seven individuals fired weapons during a dispute in a crowded area in downtown Columbia,” Schlude said during the press conference. “Close to 30 shots were fired during this incident. Every one of those shots put lives at risk. It is remarkable that more people were not injured or killed.”
In the aftermath of the shooting, Schulde said CPD intends to refer as many cases as possible to the U.S. Attorney's Office, pointing to differences between state and federal sentencing.
“Our message is clear. If you unlawfully possess a firearm or use a firearm to endanger others in Columbia, we will pursue every available avenue to hold you accountable,” Schlude said. “We will work with our local, state, and federal partners to seek the strongest charges and penalties supported by the evidence under the law.”
In a statement to ABC 17 News, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri said it continues to welcome appropriate federal case referrals from local law enforcement agencies. It also described its partnership with CPD as part of a broader, ongoing effort to identify people responsible for violent crime and hold them accountable.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri has a longstanding commitment to working collaboratively with law enforcement partners throughout the district, including the Columbia Police Department, to address crime and violent crime,” said Candice Jamoles, who is the spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District. “For example, during Operation Brightside in 202[5], our office worked closely with CPD, as part of a coordinated effort to investigate and prosecute violent criminal activity. We continue to build on those partnerships and share a common goal with our local law enforcement agencies: Identifying those responsible for violent crime, holding offenders accountable, and making our communities safer.”
Operation Brightside was organized through the Violent Crime Abatement Team, a coalition established by the U.S. Attorney's Office in December 2025 to bring together federal, state, and local agencies to investigate violent crime and identify cases appropriate for federal prosecution. The operation resulted in 33 arrests, 19 federal indictments, 21 felony state warrants, and six residential search warrants.
From Nov. 10, 2025-Nov. 10, 2026, the Western District of Missouri prosecuted 26 federal cases that originated in Columbia, involved a Columbia resident or involved crimes committed in the city.
Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson said there is no single path for deciding whether a case should be prosecuted federally. Sometimes a federal agency or task force is involved from the beginning. In other cases, local prosecutors may contact the U.S. Attorney's Office if they believe a case would be better suited for federal court. Federal prosecutors may also approach local officials about taking a case.
Johnson said federal prosecutors generally take cases with particularly strong evidence and have smaller caseloads than local prosecutors. He added that Boone County's limited resources can make federal assistance valuable, although some cases, such as murder, may have stronger potential outcomes in state court.
The decision also requires coordination between state and federal authorities. While a person could theoretically face prosecution in both systems, Johnson said the Department of Justice generally follows a policy against federal prosecution when someone has already been prosecuted in state court for substantially the same conduct.
That means prosecutors must determine which jurisdiction will take the lead. Johnson said those conversations can happen between individual attorneys or during multi-agency Violent Crime Abatement Team meetings.
Sentencing is another consideration. Federal cases are subject to sentencing guidelines, which can give prosecutors and defendants a clearer idea of the potential sentence. But federal prosecution does not automatically mean a longer sentence, Johnson said. Depending on the offense, a person could face more potential incarceration in either state or federal court.
One major distinction is that Missouri's criminal justice system includes parole, while the federal system does not.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said federal charging decisions consider the seriousness of the offense, the scope of criminal activity, the impact on victims and the community, and whether there is a substantial federal interest in prosecuting the case.
Moving forward, Schlude indicated that CPD will continue working with federal partners when the evidence and law allow for federal charges.
“Folks should know upfront that if you are caught with a gun or involved in this activity in Columbia, if we can send you to the federal system, we absolutely will,” Schlude said. “We have task force officers with the ATF. That is their full-time job. So mark my words, that will happen as often as we can. We can make that happen.”
