Choi calls on city leaders to ‘take action’ against downtown Columbia bar, accuses courts of ‘lenient’ sentencing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
After a couple of high-profile incidents on East Walnut Street in downtown Columbia, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi is asking city leaders to take action against a downtown Columbia bar.
Emails from Choi, which were provided to ABC 17 News by an MU spokesman, date back to April 19, after video of a downtown fight was shared online. Choi had addressed the email to Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and City Manager De’Carlon Seewood. Choi had linked an April 11 fight on Walnut Street to an April 19 incident in Iowa City – the hometown of the University of Iowa.
Choi’s April 19 email demanded that the city hire more police officers and staff a downtown unit, while calling a portion of Walnut Street “a danger zone.” That email was sent two weeks after Police Chief Jill Schlude announced the planned downtown unit launch would be delayed because of staffing issues.
Buffaloe had responded in an email to Choi, indicating “I know that they had been in talks with the business owner, who you also see in the video breaking up the fight, about what was needed to improve that block's safety.”
Buffaloe also wrote in her April 20 response that “Besides this incident on the 11th, I had not heard of an incident happening in this block for months.
Choi sent emails to Seewood, Buffaloe, all City Council members and Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson on July 27, the day after a brawl occurred on Walnut and Ninth streets that led to seven people being arrested. At least one person was charged with a felony.
Choi specifically named Reign Bar in his email. Reign Bar opened in October 2025, according to business information filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
“It happened again at Walnut and 9th Streets. We continue to experience violent fights and gunfire outside Reign Bar. How many warnings about this establishment do you need to hear before meaningful action is taken?” Choi wrote in one of the emails addressed to Buffaloe, Seewood and Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll.
No gunshots were heard in video of the July 26 incident that circulated on social media, and police have not said that gunshots were fired. Though felony charges were filed against a man accused of firing a gun on Aug. 9 at the same intersection.
“I implore you to take appropriate action to hold this establishment, and any other establishment contributing to these conditions, accountable. The recurring violence demonstrates that the owner is NOT taking adequate steps to maintain a safe environment,” Choi wrote in his July 27 email.
Choi also accused Johnson of giving “violent perpetrators a slap on the wrist” while including five links to local media reporting on sentences for various crime stories.
ABC 17 News has filed a request for additional emails following the July 26 downtown incident.
Check back for updates.
