In a brazen midday heist that rattled a quiet stretch of the Missouri River, two armed suspects robbed the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville on Wednesday afternoon, state police said. One carried a rifle and the other a handgun as they took an undetermined amount of cash, then sped away in a tan, older-model Ford Taurus. Deputies later found the vehicle abandoned, and no arrests had been announced.
What officials say
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol news release reported by Boston 25 News, the suspects entered the Isle of Capri Casino at about 2 p.m. CT. Investigators say one suspect was armed with a rifle and the other with a handgun before they left the gaming floor with cash. The patrol also shared an image of its written news release on its official account, underscoring that this was no rumor floating around the slots.
Getaway car found abandoned
Local deputies tracked the tan Ford Taurus north into Howard County and eventually found it abandoned along County Road 344, KMBC reported. The suspects were gone by the time officers arrived and remain at large. Authorities brought in aerial resources as part of a coordinated search of the surrounding countryside, but the manhunt did not immediately turn up the pair.
Investigation under way
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control has taken over the investigation, with help from the Boonville Police Department, the Cooper County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, according to Boston 25 News. Investigators have not released further suspect descriptions or put a public number on how much money was taken. Casino and local officials did not immediately issue separate statements to news outlets, leaving the patrol’s brief release as the primary public account of what happened.
About the casino
The Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel in Boonville is a riverboat-style property operated by Caesars Entertainment and listed at 100 Isle of Capri Blvd., according to local casino listings and industry directories. The complex includes a hotel and a gaming floor that typically draws a mix of central Missouri regulars and travelers rolling along nearby Interstate 70, looking for a quick stop and a little luck.
How to help
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the robbery or who has video or other potentially useful information to contact law enforcement. Tips can be shared with the Missouri State Highway Patrol or the Howard County Sheriff’s Office to help investigators track down the suspects and piece together the timeline of the casino heist.
