Columbia man sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegal gun possession after murder acquittal

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in state prison Monday at the Boone County Courthouse for illegal gun possession after being acquitted of murder.

A jury found 52-year-old Leo Robinson Jr. guilty of being a felon in possession of a gun earlier this month. He was found not guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Robinson was involved in the 2021 deadly shooting of Reginald Ball outside of Waffle House on Vandiver Drive in north Columbia. According to court documents, Robinson had gotten into an argument with Ball in the parking lot.

Robinson fired three shots, hitting Ball, before driving away, court documents say. He claims it was self defense.

"I know there are two sides to this story. I know the jury did not convict you of the murder," Judge Brouck Jacobs said Monday during sentencing. "But if you had not had that gun, I don't see any possibility that this man would have been shot to death."

Robinson's cousin spoke on his behalf during the hearing, saying that since they were young, Robinson was always the peacemaker among his cousins.

"As cousins, we have problems or disagreements he would always be the one to tell us to let's talk it out," Banks said.

Robinson is being given credit for time served.