A Jefferson City man, Brandon Higgins, 19, was charged with multiple crimes after allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint on December 28. The robbery occurred in the 800 block of Ohio Street and was reported to the Jefferson City Police Department at approximately 4:03 p.m.
According to court documents, the victim, who had been trying to sell a Coach backpack through Snapchat, was approached by Higgins and another man. The victim told police that the robbers, one of whom was wearing a ski mask, pulled a gun on him and stole the backpack. The victim and a witness pursued the suspects, but the robbers escaped in a red Ford.
Detectives later traced the robbery back to Higgins using Snapchat’s law enforcement portal. They were able to identify Higgins after a School Resource Officer recognized him from prior encounters and a photo lineup. Despite the victim not identifying Higgins, the witness positively identified him as the robber.
At around 6:05 p.m., officers located Higgins in the red vehicle at Riverside Park, where they found a black ski mask on the passenger seat where Higgins had been sitting. Higgins was interviewed by detectives, admitting to his involvement in the robbery but denying using a gun. He did not identify his accomplice.
Higgins was arrested and charged with First-Degree Robbery, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was held in the Cole County Jail without bond. Higgins had previously been charged in May 2023 with First-Degree Motor Vehicle Tampering and was out on bond in that case.
