Local, state and federal officials announce 33 arrests in ‘Operation Brightside’ warrant sweep in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies announced at a news conference Monday they arrested 33 individuals in a "warrant sweep" in Columbia. The Department of Justice says all but one of these arrests were for felony charges.

• 33 arrests
• 19 federal indictments
• 21 felony state warrants
• 6 residential search warrants

In Dec. 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew Price said his office established a group of Missouri based federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to form a Violent Crime Abatement Team (VCAT) in response to violence and gun crimes.

"The VCAT works collaboratively to identify local violent offenders who have committed crimes, and then the team determines which cases may be appropriate for federal prosecution," Price said.

The city said it has been in communication with the Department of Justice for some time, leading up to Operation Brightside.

"We've been talking to the Department of Justice for the last few months about just making sure that we have a collaborative approach to dealing with some of the criminality that's going on in Columbia," City Manager De’Carlon Seewood said.

On Sept. 27, 21-year-old Stephens College student Aiyanna Williams was shot and later died during a shooting downtown. Two other bystanders were also shot during this incident.

ABC 17 News got ahold of a Sept. 30 email between Price and UM President Mun Choi which show a discussion of how federal law enforcement could help out in Columbia.

"Unbeknownst to President Choi, efforts were already underway," Price said. "Significant cooperation through the VCAT was already ongoing. The death during homecoming weekend was, frankly, the straw that broke the camel's back."

Last Thursday and Friday, federal, state and local law enforcement made multiple arrests for felony warrants, including gun-related offenses.

• Boone County Sheriff’s Office
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 
• Columbia, Missouri Police Department
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Missouri State Highway Patrol
• United States Marshals Service

The sweep came two days after a federal grand jury indicted 10 people in Mid-Missouri for drug and gun crimes. The indictments stem from cases in Boone, Cole and Cooper counties.

"It took several weeks to plan and lots and lots of time," Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said.

On Thursday, ABC 17 News saw law enforcement working at the Colonial Village Trailer Court on Range Line Street. A neighbor said law enforcement used five flash bangs to get the man out of the home. The sweep happened two days after a federal grand jury indicted 10 people in Mid-Missouri for drug and gun crimes. The indictments are from cases out of Boone, Cole and Cooper Counties.

Later on Thursday, ABC 17 News saw seven people appear in federal court in Jefferson City. Three of the defendants — Tyrone Sabb, Thomas Abbey Jr. and Justin Shelton -- are charged with illegal gun possession and were named in newly unsealed federal court documents. Prosecutors say all three men are connected with an alleged stolen-gun ring linked to incidents between March 17-20.

• Tyrone Sabb
• Thomas Abbey Jr.
• Justin Shelton
• Damon Thompson
• Paul Johnson
• James Hanton
• Paul Arnall

Thompson, Johnson, Hanton and Arnall are also charged with illegal gun possession and the DOJ asked that they be detained.

The DOJ noted none of the warrants involved immigration violations.

Watch a replay of the news conference in the video player.