A year after deadly downtown Columbia shooting, public safety push goes on

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nearly a year has passed since a Stephens College student was shot and killed in downtown Columbia, and the police department still doesn't have a unit dedicated to downtown -- an area that has become a flashpoint between the city government and University of Missouri leadership.  

“I believe there is much more that we need to do, given the number of incidents that we’ve seen,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi told ABC 17 News in a recent interview. 

Following 21-year-old Aiyanna Williams’ death on Broadway last September, Choi started pushing the city to get crime under control. One month later, MU and the city put out a joint list of actions to do just that. 

One of those points was to increase law enforcement downtown, and throughout the past year, the idea of reinstating the Columbia Police Department’s downtown unit has come up multiple times. 

However, in an April interview with ABC 17 News, CPD Chief Jill Schlude said that wasn’t going to be possible until at least the fall because of staffing, but extra officers have been assigned to patrol downtown. 

Schlude declined an interview for this story. City spokesperson Christopher Ave said Schlude declined out of respect for the Williams family. 

Ave said in an email that CPD had 163 sworn police officers as of early September, but that number fluctuates because of attrition rates. He also said CPD is understaffed by 23 positions.

Although eight people will start in the police academy at the end of September, Ave said, they won't be ready to be on the streets for about 10 months.

Choi said he likes the idea of bringing back the dedicated downtown CPD unit, which Ave said was formed over 15 years ago. It was disbanded in 2019 because of staffing.

The key to reviving the unit could be in the public safety sales tax the Columbia voters approved in August. The 1% sales tax would take effect on Jan. 1, and the city would start to receive the revenue generated in March.

The tax is expected to bring in $38 million. Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said the police department estimates hiring 50 more police officers over four years with that funding, along with an updated building and higher pay for police.

"This will allow us to have a sustainable funding stream in addition to what we're already giving from the general fund to the police and fire department," Buffaloe said.

Choi said he supports CPD and its efforts to increase downtown safety, but still pushes the city to do more.

"When I believe something is very important like this, I will continue to advocate for it. And I'll ask all members of our community to help support more police, the need for more police in downtown," Choi said.

Williams' death sparked Choi's public advocacy, but constant violence in one area of downtown pushes him to continue.

Following a large street brawl and a shots-fired call over the summer, Choi sent emails to the city again, asking city leaders to revoke the liquor license for Reign Bar–-the establishment he believes is the cause of the fights and crime in the section of East Walnut Street that intersects with Eighth through Tenth Streets. 

He also warned students to stay away from that area at night.

“It's probably not the only establishment that has caused this type of situation, but it is a very prominent bar in that location, Ninth and Walnut, where these violent incidents are occurring,” Choi said. 

Buffaloe agreed that something needs to be done.

"We want to make sure that people are safe, and we know that once it gets like after midnight or closer to bars close, people have been drinking and there's a lot of young people downtown, and we want to figure out ways that we can try to proactively message about that," Buffaloe said.

She mentioned that CPD met with bar owners to establish a line of communication. Schlude said after the meeting that many of the bar owners expressed concerns about CPD staffing and people tailgating in their cars.

A manager at Reign Bar told ABC 17 News that he believes the people who are involved in violence near the bar aren't patrons, and the problem is the people who stay outside with open containers.

Last fall, CPD ramped up its enforcement efforts downtown to try to reduce violence. Between August 2025 and 2026, CPD issued 11 open-container citations and made 41 arrests. CPD also cracked down on jaywalking, and since August 2025, the department has issued 54 citations and made 16 arrests.

MU brings over 30,000 students to Columbia, and Choi said he feels responsible for their safety. 

"There are sections of downtown that are dangerous that I wouldn't want my family to go to. As well as, I am responsible for the safety of thousands of students that live in downtown, that work in downtown establishments and those that visit downtown during weekend hours and so forth," Choi said.

Choi said there are a few things that could help increase public safety downtown, including adding more CPD police officers, providing them moral support, allowing CPD to collectively work with the University of Missouri Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff's Office, and getting the Columbia City Council to pass an urban camping ordinance.

Choi sees some of the activities of homeless people downtown as a potential safety hazard for students and their families.

Columbia's Downtown Improvement District has already submitted a letter asking the Columbia City Council to consider and research an urban camping ordinance. It was signed by nearly 80 businesses.

However, the District has pushed back against Choi for his focus on Reign Bar, saying any crime issues downtown should not be pinned on a particular business.

CID Executive Director Nickie Davis said an urban camping ordinance would provide clarity on what to do when a homeless individual is sleeping, blocking or using the space in front of a business.

"Everything seems to be unclear. So really, we are looking for a clarification of what is and isn't enforceable. Are they being enforced already? And what can we do to make things a little bit more clear for everybody?" Davis said.

The letter was submitted to the council Aug. 17. However, council members haven't taken action on the proposal or asked the city administration to conduct research.

"We know this is something our businesses need. They are struggling," Davis said. "So, we will continue to work for that until city council can give us an answer one way or another and/or put in the time and research on what this could look like."