A verbal dispute in the Walmart parking lot escalated into a non-lethal shooting Saturday night.
Lt. Josh Stewart with the Poplar Bluff Police Department said the shooting occurred around 10 p.m. May 13. It began as an argument between two brothers in the parking lot of Walmart Supercenter, 333 S. Westwood Blvd. The dispute escalated until one brother — identified as Rodger Rice, 39, of Poplar Bluff — allegedly shot the other in the leg and fled the scene.
The victim was transported to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment and then transferred to a Cape Girardeau hospital.
Rice was located Sunday morning and taken into custody. He was lodged at the Butler County jail on charges of assault first degree, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, and endangering the welfare of a child first degree. These charges are pending formal filing by the Butler County Prosecutor.
The investigation is ongoing.