Man sought in Poplar Bluff drive-by shooting

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man on parole for drug charges is wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon in the 900 block of Fairmount Street.

Poplar Bluff police chief Danny Whiteley said Wednesday he would like to make arrangements for Duanne Anthony Winters, 26, to turn himself in to authorities.

"I have personally contacted some of his relatives and given them my contact information," Whiteley said. "I would like to make arrangements to pick him up and hear his side of the story. He's eventually going to get caught, and if he is stopped by officers he will be treated as an armed suspect, which puts him and the officer in a dangerous situation."

Winters is suspected of shooting Latez A. Kellum, 21, of Poplar Bluff in the left arm around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday with a handgun. A motive for the shooting is not known, Whiteley said.

Kellum told officers he ran to a nearby home after being shot by the driver of a 2004 red Pontiac that had been following him for several blocks. Reports indicate there may have been others in the vehicle. A person at the home called police, officers reported.

Other officers were searching addresses Winters was known to frequent. The vehicle suspected to be used in the shooting was found about half an hour later at a home in the 600 block of Sixth Street.

More than 12 law enforcement vehicles responded to the address just off Main Street, including Poplar Bluff police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

Officers initially approached the home with shotguns as they searched for Winters. Two men at the home were handcuffed, while women and children waited inside. Steven Jerome Moore, 20, of Poplar Bluff was later arrested on unrelated charges, including two warrants and suspicion of possession of heroin and marijuana. He was booked at the Butler County Jail.

Two others were arrested on unrelated charges at separate residences during the evening search for Winters.

Rikki-Lee Ashley Sturgeon, 22, of Poplar Bluff was arrested at 6 p.m. Tuesday at her home on a warrant and suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jason O. Wallace, 37, of Poplar Bluff was also arrested at 6 p.m. at his home on a warrant.

Both were booked at the Butler County Jail.

Pertinent Address:

Poplar Bluff, MO