Missouri Man Threatens Bank Teller With Loaded Gun, Flees Scene With $6000

A man from Columbia, Missouri, was charged with bank robbery, brandishing a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors allege that he entered a downtown Columbia bank, displayed a firearm and demanded money from a teller.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 71-year-old Basil Jacob Kyles threatened the teller and demanded all the money in the cash drawer. The teller handed over about $6,000, after which Kyles allegedly placed the cash in a plastic bag and fled the scene.

A federal grand jury charged Kyles with bank robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm and brandishing a firearm.

If convicted, Kyles could face up to 25 years in federal prison on the bank robbery charge. He also faces a potential life sentence for brandishing a firearm and up to 15 years for the firearm possession charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn will be the prosecutor in Kyles’ case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Columbia Police Department.

According to investigators, the robbery took place on Feb. 14, 2026, when Kyles allegedly entered First Mid Bank & Trust around 11 a.m. armed with a loaded Taurus .38 Special revolver.

As seen in a surveillance video, Kyles, who has been a serial bank robber, was dressed in dark clothing and a black ski mask. He pointed the gun at the teller with his finger on the trigger. “Don’t move. I know you got buttons in here; don’t press it,” the suspect told the teller.

He added, “I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I will. I don’t have anything to lose.” After fleeing the bank with $6000, Kyles allegedly went to the Broadway Diner to have a cheeseburger.

According to the report, at around 11:30 a.m., Kyles showed up at the diner. The owner confirmed that he used to work at the diner before. Police also found Kyles's jacket inside the diner’s bathroom.

This is not Kyles's first offense, as he has been arrested many times since 1970. He also has several convictions for first-degree robbery and breaking and entering, as well as probation violations.