Poplar Bluff man arrested for allegedly firing gun in residential area while drunk

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man may face felony charges after he allegedly discharged a semiautomatic handgun near his young children Tuesday afternoon.

David Mathias Ray, 30, of the 200 block of Estate Lake Drive was arrested at 12:55 p.m. Tuesday on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, armed criminal action, driving while intoxicated (chronic offender) and possession of a controlled substance inside a county jail.

Ray's arrest stems from an investigation by the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

At about 11:45 a.m., Deputy James Skinner was sent to the 4500 block of Route PP in reference to a report of a man shooting a handgun near a residence. Two small children also were reportedly near the man while he was firing the weapon.

Skinner also was provided information indicating the man had a small, dark blue passenger car.

According to his report, when Skinner arrived in the area he saw a small, blue Audi leave a residence in the 200 block of Estate Lake Drive.

"I observed the vehicle drive toward Green Forest Grocery at a high rate of speed," Skinner said.

As Skinner entered the parking lot, he said, the driver, later identified as Ray, allegedly accelerated and drove around the back of the business.

When Skinner activated his patrol car's emergency equipment, "the driver put his arm out the driver's front window and appear(ed) to wave at me," Skinner said. "The driver continued to drive and pulled back into the driveway" on Estate Lake Drive.

Skinner said when Ray got out of the vehicle, he could detect a strong odor of an intoxicant on his breath.

Ray, he said, told him the handgun was inside the vehicle.

Skinner said he found a Hi-Point semiautomatic handgun in the front seat of the vehicle.

"The handgun had a magazine in the magazine well and one live round in the magazine," he said.

Two children, ages 2 and 5, were also inside the vehicle, Skinner said.

The 2-year-old reportedly told Skinner he had been watching his dad shoot his gun.

"The toddler pointed to a tree beside the residence and said that was the tree his dad was shooting at," Skinner said.

Witnesses reported hearing the shots being fired and seeing a man, identified as Ray, holding a gun with the children nearby.

Ray, Skinner said, was taken to the sheriff's department where he was told of his rights and agreed to speak with him.

Ray, Skinner said, told him about playing darts and poker the evening before, as well as consuming alcohol.

"Mr. Ray advised that he was trying to demonstrate weapon safety to his children and he fired five rounds from his handgun," Skinner said. "(He) advised that the children were standing by him when he fired his handgun."

When Ray was booked at the Butler County jail, Skinner said, Ray was found to be in alleged possession of controlled substances, which were not in a prescription bottle.

Ray subsequently was released pending review of the case by the prosecuting attorney.