SIKESTON Mo. -- A Van Buren man faces felony charges after allegedly firing gunshots from a vehicle.
John William Tinsley, 38 of Van Buren, formerly of Sikeston, is charged with Class B felony discharging a firearm from a vehicle at a person or habitable structure and Class D felony unlawful possession of a firearm. He is a convicted felon which prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
At 3:08 p.m. Wednesday, officers with Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to the 200 block of Thrush in reference to gunshots fired from a vehicle, according to Sgt. Jon Broom, public information officer for DPS. Upon arrival, officers met with witnesses and learned there had been a disturbance prior to the shots fired. Officers obtained a description of the vehicle and the suspect that fired the weapon.
"That information was passed on to other law enforcement officers in the area and the vehicle was located and stopped on US 60 just west of Sikeston," Broom said. "A loaded .40-caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol was located inside the vehicle."
Tinsley was interviewed by Sikeston detectives and agents with Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. According to Tinsley, he had been involved in a physical altercation near Cardinal and Thrush streets. Tinsley said when he got into his vehicle, the other party involved in the disturbance came toward his vehicle. Tinsley said he then fired the gun in the air a couple of times before driving away.
Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and agents with ATF assisted.
Tinsley is charged through Scott County with a $75,000 cash or surety. He remained in jail as of Friday.