Joplin man to stand trial on assault charges from shooting incident
Apr. 19—A judge has ordered a 44-year-old Joplin man bound over for trial on assault and weapon charges stemming from his alleged chasing after and firing of shots at another driver.
Judge Joseph Hensley ruled at the conclusion of a preliminary hearing Thursday in Jasper County Circuit Court that there is probable cause for D'Andre R.L. Moore to stand trial on counts of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Brittany Atilano, who acknowledged being a reluctant witness appearing under subpoena by the Jasper County prosecutor's office, testified that she was driving a vehicle belonging to the defendant and his girlfriend on Dec. 21 in the vicinity of Eighth Street and Jackson Avenue in Joplin when she saw Moore approaching in another vehicle.
"When I saw him coming down the street, I kind of knew what was about to happen," Atilano said.
She said she was operating the couple's vehicle with the consent of Moore's girlfriend but anticipated that it might upset Moore. She said he chased and caught up with her at Junge Boulevard she was calling his girlfriend to tell her what was happening.
"I didn't feel like I was doing anything wrong," Atilano told the court.
She said the girlfriend managed to stop Moore near Junge and Byers Avenue and talk to him about the matter, but the defendant came at her again in his car and suddenly she heard four gunshots.
Atilano, who escaped injury in the incident, called 911 and later told police that Moore stuck something out the window at her. She acknowledged under cross-examination that she did not actually see a gun. But, what she heard were gunshots, she said.
"I didn't say, 'I think,' I know they were gunshots," she testified.
Defense attorney Brian Glades argued that no gun was ever located by police, nor any evidence produced in court that his client even had one. Assistant Prosecutor Kurtis Droppa countered with the argument that "the only thing that produces gunshots is a gun."
The court has set Moore's initial appearance in a trial division on May 1.
Jeff Lehr is a reporter for The Joplin Globe.
