Murder suspect still at large

The search for a Poplar Bluff man wanted in connection with a home invasion that left one dead and another with serious injuries has entered its third week.

Authorities have been searching for Stacy Andrew Gipson since Dec. 1 when he is accused of causing the death of Kevin Sanders, 23, and serious physical injury to Adriana Lundy, 23, by shooting them.

A no-bond warrant is outstanding for Gipson’s arrest. The 25-year-old is charged with the Class A felonies of first-degree murder and first-degree assault, the Class B felony of first-degree attempted robbery and three unclassified felonies of armed criminal action.

“We have been receiving different tips that we are following up on,” said Poplar Bluff Police Lt. Josh Stewart, who indicated Gipson still is considered armed and dangerous.

There have been “no sightings per se,” Stewart said.

Officers, he said, have been “chasing down other avenues and contacting people” in their search for Gipson.

“We’ve had a couple (of reports) on the local side, (indicating he) may have been located locally (but) all of those haven’t shown any results,” Stewart said. “Then, we have received some (reports) he has moved out of the area.”

Although the search for Gipson is ongoing, Stewart said, the investigation is mostly wrapped up.

“We’re still following up on little details,” Stewart said. “If we come across something that we have a question (about), we’ll interview somebody.”

The shooting occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Sanders’ residence in the 100 block of Begley Street.

When officers arrived, according to earlier reports, they found Sanders bleeding profusely from a single gunshot wound to his chest.

Sanders subsequently was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Lundy had “sustained apparent gunshot wounds to her lower extremities,” police Detective Corey Mitchell wrote in his probable-cause statement.

Lundy’s injuries earlier were described as serious, but not life threatening.

Authorities believe Sanders and Lundy were shot during a robbery allegedly perpetrated by Gipson and Christopher “Jantzen” Gilmore, 22, of Poplar Bluff to take marijuana and cash.

Gilmore alleged Gipson was armed and shot Sanders and Lundy.

Gilmore also faces charges for his role in the alleged crimes.

He is accused of “acting alone or knowingly in concert with another” to commit the Class A felonies of first-degree murder and first-degree assault, the Class B felony of first-degree attempted robbery and three unclassified felonies of armed criminal action.

Gilmore is to appear at 1 p.m. Jan. 14 before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for a preliminary hearing in his case. He is being held in the Butler County jail without bond.

Anyone with information as to Gipson’s whereabouts is asked to contact the police department at 573-785-5776.