MALDEN, Mo. -- Dunklin County authorities continue their search for a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man they consider to be armed and dangerous after he allegedly fatally shot another man Wednesday morning.
David Lee Anderson, 30, of the 400 block of North Sixth Street was charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action and the Class C felony of unlawful possession of a weapon by Dunklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ian Page.
A no-bond warrant was issued by Associate Circuit Judge John Spielman for the arrest of Anderson, who is accused of knowingly causing the death of Geoffrey Wright of Malden by shooting him.
At about 11:35 a.m. Wednesday, the Malden Police Department received multiple 911 phones regarding gunshots being fired near the intersection of North Kimball and East Peck streets, according to Chief Jarrett Bullock.
"Officers were on the scene within a minute and a half," Bullock said.
An unresponsive black male, later identified as Wright, was found to be suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Bullock said.
A 46-year-old resident of the 800 block of Tom Street, Wright was "lying across the front seat of a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox as it was parked running behind the residence of 613 N. Kimball," according to Bullock's probable-cause affidavit.
"We canvassed and started the whole process," which included setting up a perimeter to secure the scene, Bullock said.
The Dunklin County Major Case Squad was activated immediately, said Bullock.
Officers responded to assist his department from the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol and its Division of Drug and Crime Control.
Emergency-medical-services personnel, as well as Dunklin County Coroner James Powell, also responded to the scene.
Bullock said Powell pronounced Wright dead at 11:50 a.m.
Powell said Wright's autopsy is to be performed at 10 a.m. Friday by Dr. Russell Deidiker in Farmington, Mo.
"During the course of the investigation, an eyewitness came forward and told investigators he observed David Lee Anderson approach Geoffrey Wright and there was a brief conversation between the two men," said Bullock, who indicated the men knew each other.
The witness, the chief said, reported the "exchange between the two men was becoming heated, and he told Anderson he is not supposed to be around there."
As the witness' attention was diverted to Wright, "Mr. Anderson produced a firearm and discharged the weapon numerous times," Bullock said.
The witness, Bullock said, further reported Anderson then walked back to the vehicle he was driving and left the area at a high rate of speed.
"We are still actively trying to gather other witnesses and talk to people," Bullock said. "Now, our focus has gone from trying to locate the suspect to pinpointing where he is at."
Anderson, according to Bullock, is from Malden, but has been living in Poplar Bluff, Mo., "off and on."
Investigators, Bullock said, have been in contact with Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley, as well as his detectives.
"We've coordinated joint operations to look at a couple of places" for Anderson, Bullock said. " ... Danny and his guys go above and beyond to help a small guy out. They are great people."
Anderson is a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of second-degree robbery in May 2012 and second-degree assault in February 2006. Both convictions were in Dunklin County.
Anderson also is wanted on warrants out of both Butler and Dunklin counties, said Bullock, who expressed his thanks to the officers on his department, the sheriff's department, the patrol's DDCC unit, major case squad and Poplar Bluff Police Department for their assistance on the investigation.
Anderson is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, with what is described as a noticeable scar on his upper lip.
Anyone with information about Anderson's whereabouts is asked to call the nearest law enforcement agency immediately and avoid contacting him.