Boonville woman pleads guilty to shooting at law enforcement during 2016 pursuit

Timothy Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced on Tuesday that Victoria Buol, 25, pleaded guilty to firing at law enforcement officers and other motorists during a high-speed pursuit.

Garrison said Buol’s co-defendant Russell Moore, 27, pleaded guilty to the same charges on Dec. 18.

According to the plea agreement, Boone County deputies were dispatched to a Columbia residence in April 2016 for a stolen vehicle complaint. The victim told officers that her Jeep, guns and other items were stolen from her residence.

The next morning, deputies spotted the Jeep in the parking lot of Midway Travel Center. As officers approached the car, Buol drove away with Moore in the passenger seat.

A pursuit began and Moore began shooting at officers. Deputies said at one point during the pursuit, Moore exited the car, started shooting and then got back into the vehicle.

According to court documents, an officer’s patrol vehicle was struck by at least one bullet causing it to be disabled.

Deputies said multiple shots were also fired at four semi-trailer trucks, nearly striking one of the drivers.

Officers said the Jeep ran out of gas on County Road 172 in Callaway County and Buol and Moore were arrested. Both of them admitted to driving the car at different times during the pursuit and firing the gun.

Buol and Moore said their intentions for firing at the tractor-trailers was to cause a serious accident, which would end the pursuit and help in their escape.

Buol is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years in federal prison without parole.

Under the terms of Moore’s plea agreement, the government and Moore agree to recommend to the court a sentence of 40 years in federal prison without parole.