University of Missouri’s Choi reiterates importance of safety after downtown Columbia brawl

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

University of Missouri System President Mun Choi said Tuesday in a written statement that concerns about violence near MU's campus downtown "must be addressed" after a street brawl over the weekend.

This statement comes shortly after a fight in downtown Columbia left seven people arrested on suspicion of a variety of crimes, and renewed safety concerns for residents. One police officer was hit in the head but refused further medical treatment.

In the statement, Choi wrote, "violence and assaults against law enforcement officers are unacceptable and undermine the safety of our entire community."

Choi mentioned a survey in which Columbia residents ranked homelessness and crime as the issues that needed the most attention.

"Columbia residents have consistently identified public safety as a top concern," Choi wrote. "Their voices deserve to be heard, and their concerns must be addressed."

According to the Columbia Police Department's crime map, from May 1 to July 28, there have been 22 assaults in the downtown area, many of them on Walnut Street, Broadway and Tenth Street. Data on the map is posted with a three-day delay, so it does not capture the early Sunday street fight.

The same number of assaults was recorded during the same time frame in 2025. Of those, six were on Walnut Street, where the fight took place early Sunday.

Choi said in his statement that investing in the Columbia Police Department is the best way to achieve a safer downtown. Columbia voters will decide next week on whether to approve a sales tax to increase police funding.

"Achieving safer communities requires continued investment in the Columbia Police Department," Choi wrote. "This includes providing the resources needed to recruit and retain qualified officers, deploy advanced technologies, and ensure that city leaders provide officers the support they need to carry out their responsibilities effectively and professionally."