Lilbourn man enters not guilty plea to fatal shooting

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A Lilbourn man entered a not guilty plea in connection to the fatal shooting of a Howardville woman.

Shaundale T. Maxwell, 45, who is charged with second degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, discharge/shoot firearm at or from motor vehicle/shot at person – persistent offender, unlawful possession of a firearm and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, entered the plea on Thursday, Jan. 18 before Associate Circuit Judge Brandon M. Sanchez.

The New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department responded at 5:40 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15 to a report of a woman with a gunshot wound. At the scene deputies found a 45-year-old female with a gunshot wound to her chest; she was deceased.

According to the probable cause statement by Sgt. Zach Albright with the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, a witness to the shooting described Maxwell as very paranoid and stated that he and the victim were in a heated verbal argument.

“They continued to argue and Maxwell shot one time striking (the victim),” the witness told police. “He then fled the apartment with the firearm.”

When deputies located Maxwell, they noted he was attempting to hide something under a couch. After receiving permission to search the residence, officers found a Hi Point 40 caliber handgun with a defaced serial number under the couch.

During an interview, Albright wrote that Maxwell stated he and the victim were in a romantic relationship. He also told officers he had hidden the gun so he would not be shot by law enforcement.

Authorities noted the life of a child under the age of 17 was endangered when the firearm was discharged and a bullet hit the bedroom wall where the child was sitting.

Maxwell, who is currently being held in the Mississippi County Jail without bond, is scheduled to return to court at 10 a.m. Jan. 29.