Poplar Bluff man shot during fight with stepfather

A Poplar Bluff man allegedly was shot Tuesday afternoon by his stepfather after an apparent verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation at their home.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Department received a call at 1:10 p.m. from Lewis Chavez, who reported there was a dispute going on at his residence on Old Chisolm Trail, and he had shot his stepson, Timothy Jones Sr., 43, explained Butler County Chief Deputy Wes Popp.

Chavez, he said, resides at the home with his wife, who had let her son move into their home.

The dispute, Popp said, was over Jones not having a job, being gone all the time and using their vehicle without putting gasoline in it.

“Basically, (Chavez) is tired of taking care of him,” Popp said. “(Jones) shows up, and dad wants the keys.

“It turns into an argument, which turned into a physical altercation of pushing and shoving” inside the residence.

At one point, Popp said, Chavez left the room and went into this bedroom, with “Timothy following.”

Jones’ mother/Chavez’s wife already was in the bedroom as she was not feeling well, Popp said.

“Lewis enters his bedroom and grabs his handgun, which is underneath his pillow,” Popp said. “Mom hears the arguing, and she gets out of bed.

“As Lewis is getting the pistol, mom ends up between them as Timothy enters the bedroom. Mom is trying to get them to stop.”

Jones allegedly pushed his mother, and “Lewis ends up firing at a downward angle, striking (Jones) in the thigh,” said Popp, who indicated the shot entered and exited Jones’ thigh.

Jones was taken by ambulance to a Poplar Bluff hospital for treatment, Popp said.

Chavez, who was “marked up” from his alleged altercation with Jones, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, Popp said.

All three, Popp said, were interviewed.

“Everything lines up; all the statements basically line up,” Popp explained.

Chavez, 69, expressed fear of his stepson, who is “so much bigger” at 6-feet, 4-inches than his approximately 5-feet, 10-inches and might have hurt him physically in the altercation.

“That’s what is going to be up to the prosecutor,” Popp said. “Our report will go to the (prosecuting attorney) in the morning.

“He’ll make the decision then whether charges will be filed.”