KENNETT — A Poplar Bluff man will face life in prison at a sentencing hearing Dec. 18 after being convicted last week in the 2018 murder of Malden resident Geoffrey Wright.
David Lee Anderson, 35, of the 400 block of South Sixth Street was convicted Oct. 23 of the Class A felony of second-degree murder and the Class D felony of unlawful possession of a firearm in a bench trial at the Dunklin County Courthouse. Judge Fred W. Copeland presided over the case.
Anderson was convicted of fatally shooting Wright on March 28, 2018. He originally 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.
According to reports, an autopsy showed Wright, 46, died from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and chest areas. He reportedly was found unresponsive lying across the front seat of a still-running Chevrolet Equinox, which was parked behind a residence in Malden. Wright died at the scene.
Malden police chief Jarrett Bullock reported in his probable-cause affidavit an “exchange between the two men was becoming heated, and (a witness) told Anderson he is not supposed to be around there.”
That witness identified Anderson as the alleged shooter.
Bullock went on to say as the witness’s attention was diverted to Wright, “Mr. Anderson produced a firearm and discharged the weapon numerous times.”
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.
Authorities tracked Anderson to Hayti Heights, where he was arrested at a residence there the next day.