Man found guilty of shooting at trooper during 2017 traffic stop

NEW MADRID, Mo. - It took a jury just over 30 minutes to convict a Charleston man of attempting to shoot a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer.

A New Madrid County jury found Demarcus Owens, 29, of Charleston guilty of first degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, discharge of a firearm and resisting arrest in connection with a March 6, 2017, incident, which began in Sikeston.

According to the probable cause statement, at 12:40 p.m. March 6, 2017, Ryan Windham with the Missouri State Highway Patrol attempted to stop a vehicle on Keystone Road in Sikeston for not having a front license plate. When the vehicle failed to stop and turned onto Highway 60, a pursuit began until the suspect’s vehicle slid off the roadway striking a utility pole guide wire.

As the vehicle came to a stop, the front seat passenger fled on foot. A backseat passenger, later identified as Owens, exited vehicle turned toward the officer and began firing a gun. The officer then returned fire, according to the probable cause statement.

While the shooting was occurring, the driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as Damyon Caldwell, placed the vehicle in reverse and fled the scene.

Additional officers responded and established a perimeter. Officers were able to take the front seat passenger, Laterrence Caldwell, into custody.

Owens was later located hiding in the bed of a pickup truck. A .40 caliber handgun was also found in the bed of the truck.

The vehicle, which Windham had pursued, was later located on Interstate 55. With the assistance of a K-9 officer, Caldwell was taken into custody.

According to the probable cause statement, “Owens admitted to firing four or five rounds at Trooper Windham. Owens stated he fired at the officer so the officer would kill him.”

At Wednesday’s trial, after the evidence was presented, the jury deliberated from 4:50 p.m. and returned to the court room by 5:25 p.m. Owens was found guilty on all counts.

New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Lawson, who tried the case, indicated he was pleased by the jury’s decision.

Lawson also pointed out that in the past five months two cases were tried in New Madrid County involving serious assaults on a law enforcement officer.

“In both cases the jury not only returned guilty verdicts on all charges, but they did so quickly, 14 minutes and 32 minutes respectively,” he said. “I believe these quick and decisive verdicts send a strong message that assaults on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in New Madrid County."

Circuit Judge William E. Reeves set formal sentencing for 10 a.m. Jan. 14.