A US Marine sent a heartbreaking final message to his family after being gunned down at his Missouri home on January 18.
Michael Ryan Burke was killed while trying to sell his iPhone on Facebook Marketplace, in what he thought was a legitimate sale.
Police believe the incident occurred at roughly 8:15pm after authorities responded to a 911 call regarding an alleged shooting at Ridgemont Court in Columbia.
Once police had arrived at the scene, they discovered Burke in a critical condition with multiple shot wounds.
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Tragically, the 42-year-old succumbed to his injuries and died in hospital.
Burke called the authorities to state he'd been shot and described his alleged attackers. While he waited for the emergency services to arrive, Burke messaged his mother and sister to say he was dying and that he loved them.
Jerry Reifeiss, Burke's friend, told KRCG13: "He texted them saying that, hey, I’m dying and I love you. That was just Ryan. He always put people in front of him and wanted to make sure people knew how he felt.
"He didn’t want to go on to the next life and pass away without providing some information to us here that would bring justice to these people and let people know he always loves them."
Alexis Baumann, Kobe Aust, Joseph Crane, all 18, as well as an unidentified juvenile have all been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, as per Columbia Police.
The male juvenile and Crane are also facing charges for unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.
As per a probable cause statement seen by People, it's believed the suspects nicked two iPhones prior to the alleged shooting of Burke.
One victim was selling the mobile phone on Facebook Marketplace like Burke when her iPhone was stolen and a gun was pointed at her. Police found the phone was sold at a Walmart ecoATM not long after the alleged robbery.
Officials have since gone through Burke's phone and found a message exchange between the Marine veteran agreeing to meet for the sale of an iPhone 15 Pro at $585.
Burke provided his address to one of the suspects, who sent the marine a message once he had arrived at the property. That message was sent just minutes before the shooting.
The male juvenile is in custody at the Boone County Juvenile Office, while Baumann, Aust and Crane are being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.
Callum Jones