Man charged for firing at state trooper

Larry Maddox

SIKESTON — A Sikeston man said he made a “mistake” when he shot at a Missouri State Highway Patrolman, who had stopped to assist him Sunday evening.

Larry W. Maddox, 49, of Sikeston is charged with two counts of first degree assault, special victim (law enforcement officer); four counts of armed criminal action; two counts of unlawful use of a weapon; and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Charges were filed Monday by New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Lawson.

According to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Clark Parrott, a trooper stopped to check on a stranded motorist at 9:51 p.m. Sunday on Highway 60, just east of Highway 61 in New Madrid County.

The driver, who was identified as Maddox, was outside of his pickup on the passenger side inspecting his vehicle. When the trooper approached the truck, the driver fired two rounds, Parrott said.

The trooper then dove to his left, unholstered his weapon and returned fire, striking the subject in the head and upper right torso.

Maddox was handcuffed and the officer and a second highway patrolman on the scene provided medical aid to the assailant until the arrival of medical personnel. Maddox was then transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center than to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he is in critical but stable condition.

The trooper, who was not identified, did not sustain any injuries in the incident.

According to the probable cause statement, Maddox was intoxicated and claimed to have used methamphetamine on Sunday.

A highway patrol investigator attempted to interview Maddox at the hospital. “Maddox refused to give details of why he shot at (the trooper). His only statement was that he made a ‘mistake,’” according to the probable cause statement submitted by Sgt. J.S. Stoelting.

Troop E Division of Drug and Crime Control is conducting the investigation. Stoelting wrote in the probable cause that the truck Maddox was driving had become disabled from damage from a recent accident. He also stated in addition to his gun, which still had five rounds of ammunition, officers located two additional loaded magazines for the gun on the vehicle’s rear bumper.

Stoelting described Maddox as “a violent subject” with a criminal history dating back to 1988. He noted Maddox was found guilty of second degree assault in 2013.

Maddox’s bond is set at $250,000, and he remains in an area hospital as of late Monday.