STEEDMAN, Mo. - A local farmer who shot at a vehicle trespassing on his property will not face charges for the incident.
Chris Wilson, Callaway County prosecuting attorney, said Carl Norris did not violate the law when he fired on the vehicle of several individuals whom he suspected were attempting to steal from him. In the vehicle at the time were Jacqueline Kemp, 21, of Mokane, and her infant child.
Said Wilson: "In the law, a person has reason to use physical force to prevent another person from stealing, trespassing on or tampering with their property."
He said that although the law also stipulates an individual cannot use deadly force, which Wilson defined as "purposely trying to kill or severely injure a person or creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm," there is no evidence Norris was using deadly force.
"Mr. Norris made it clear it was his intention to disable the vehicle because the first two suspects had fled and he didn't know where they were going," Wilson said, adding that Norris claims the second shot was not an intentional discharge of his weapon.