Federal charges filed against suspects in multi-county chase, shooting

Federal prosecutors have filed charges against a man and woman arrested following a multi-county chase and shooting in Mid-Missouri.

Russell D. Moore of Fulton and Victoria A. Buol of Boonville are suspected of leading law enforcement on a chase which started in Columbia and ended in Callaway County. Moore is now charged with being a felon in possession of a gun, and Buol is charged with possession of a stolen gun.

According to court document,s a woman in Columbia reported her Jeep stolen Wednesday, adding that guns and other items were stolen as well.

Shortly after 2:30 a.m. Thursday, a deputy spotted a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, believed to be the stolen vehicle, parked at the Midway Motel. As the deputy approached the vehicle, the female driver sped toward the motel, where the male suspect got in the car.

According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, the Jeep shot at a the deputy while driving on I-70. The Jeep exited the interstate at Route UU, went toward Gillespie Bridge Road, then Chapel Hill, continuing to shoot at deputies and officers chasing them.

During the chase, one deputy’s car was disabled near the intersection of Rock Quarry and Stadium due to damage from the gun shots.

The Jeep then went east on Stadium, north on Hwy 63, and then east on I-70.Authorities say shots were fired at four semi-trailer trucks on I-70, hitting at least one of them. The driver of that truck was not hurt. Prosecutors say the suspects shot at trucks to try and cause a crash serious enough to prevent law enforcement from continuing the chase.

Dashcam video reportedly shows more gunshots fired at responding law enforcement and other traffic while on I-70. Another deputy’s car was disabled after attempting a Precision Immobilization Technique, more commonly known as a PIT maneuver, on the Jeep. That deputy’s cruiser ended up in a ditch near mile marker 138.

While driving to the scene, ABC 17 News crews saw patrol cars on the side of I-70. Deputies told our crews they were looking for an item “supposedly thrown from the vehicle.”

The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the pursuit. A sergeant told ABC 17 News spike strips were deployed but does not believe they worked.

The Jeep exited at Williamsburg in Callaway County, going south. It stopped on County Road 172 on a private property, marked with a “Missouri Farm Bureau Member” sign, apparently after running out of gas. Both suspects were taken into custody.

There were no injuries to law enforcement officers or the suspects. A Boone County Lieutenant told ABC 17 News no responding officer’s fired their weapons.

Columbia Police, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Callaway County assisted with the chase.