A Jefferson City man - Pierre D. Starks, 22 - has been charged with receiving stolen property and unlawful use of a weapon after he allegedly fired a stolen handgun into the air to try to break up a fight at a funeral.
Jefferson City Police Department officers responded Dec. 6 to the 800 block of Jefferson Street in reference to a disturbance at a funeral, according to charging documents. While en route, officers learned two shots had been fired.
Officers at the scene found a .40-caliber shell casing near the intersection of Jefferson Street and East Atchison Street and developed a description and travel direction of a possible suspect.
An officer located and detained someone matching the suspect description in the 700 block of Jackson Street. Starks then "exited a residence with a bag, which had two 9mm handguns inside," according to charging documents.
An officer interviewed Starks on Jackson Street, where police said Starks "admitted he fired the shots at the funeral, and not his brother, who initially was believed to have fired the shots."
Police said Starks initially said he had used one of the 9mm handguns he had turned over to officers, but "when further questioned, (Starks) admitted he had used a .40-caliber handgun to fire the rounds."
A Glock 23 .40-caliber handgun was turned over to police by Starks' mother from a residence in the 700 block of Jackson Street. The serial number on the Glock matched as a gun reported stolen in Jefferson City on July 6.
While being interviewed at the police station, Starks said he had purchased the gun for $300 from an unknown individual in Jefferson City sometime in November, according to police.
The receiving stolen property charge is a class D felony. The unlawful use of a weapon charge is a class B misdemeanor.
Starks posted bond earlier this week, according to online court records.
The unlawful use of a weapons charge specifically alleges "the defendant knowingly discharged a firearm within one hundred yards of an occupied church located at 900 Jefferson Street" - where One in Christ Baptist Church is located.