DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Doniphan man was to make his first court appearance Wednesday morning after being charged with fatally shooting his brother-in-law during an apparent argument.
Benjamin Michael Ruhl was to appear before Associate Circuit Judge David Swindle for arraignment on the Class A felony of first-degree murder, the Class B felony of first-degree assault, four Class D felonies of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and two unclassified felonies of armed criminal action.
The 36-year-old is accused of killing Matthew D. Schrimsher, who Ripley County Sheriff Mike Barton earlier said, was shot once in the right, lower abdomen.
The 31-year-old, he said, was alive and alert when he left his Millcreek Road home; however, his condition worsened en route to an awaiting helicopter. Schrimsher died at Southeast Health of Ripley County at Doniphan.
An autopsy was performed Tuesday evening on Schrimsher by Dr. Russell Deidiker at a Farmington, Mo., hospital.
"The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the pelvis," said Ripley County Coroner Mike Jackson.
Samples were taken for toxicology analysis, and those results typically take six to eight weeks to be returned, Jackson said.
Authorities learned at about 2:15 a.m. Monday that the alleged shooting had occurred at Schrimsher's home, which is located off of Highway 60 West, near Highway C.
During the investigation, officers found Ruhl "retrieved an unloaded firearm from a downstairs bedroom of the residence," Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeff Johnson wrote in his probable-cause statement.
Ruhl allegedly loaded the firearm, "emerged from the bedroom and pointed it at" an 18-year-old female, Johnson said. The teen reportedly is Schrimsher's niece. In an earlier report, she was listed as Ruhl's niece.
The teen, Johnson said, alerted the others who were present about the fact Ruhl "had a gun, and they all ran from the basement to the main level of the residence," Johnson said.
Ruhl, he said, allegedly pursued Schrimsher, his sister, Erin Schrimsher, and three children, ages 15, 15 and 9, up a stairway of the home.
"Upon reaching the main floor of the residence, Matthew attempted to close the door leading to the basement," Johnson said. "As Mr. Ruhl was ascending the stairway, he pointed the firearm at the stairway door and discharged it.
"The round that was discharged traveled through the door and struck Matthew."
Johnson said Ruhl fled the home with the firearm.
Once outside, Johnson said, Ruhl is accused of firing a shot from a hidden position at a van being driven by Schrimsher's older brother, Roy, who was going to the end of the driveway to meet emergency personnel.
After allegedly firing that shot, Ruhl went into the woods with a .243-caliber rifle. Ruhl, Barton said, emerged about 30 minutes after emergency-medical-services left with Schrimsher.
Ruhl was taken into custody without incident, and his rifle subsequently was found, Barton said.
After his arrest, Johnson said, Ruhl admitted to firing both shots.
As far as a motive, "according the family, Ben has been having some alcohol issues, and Matt and Erin took him in to help him," Barton said. "An argument started ... between Ben, Matt and Roy ... and this is the outcome."
Ruhl, who had been living with his sister and brother-in-law about two weeks, is being held in the Wayne County Jail on $500,000 cash bond.
Schrimsher's obituary appears on today's Record page.