Poplar Bluff murder suspect faces additional charges

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — A Poplar Bluff man accused of fatally shooting another man who had given him a ride faces additional weapon and assault charges.

Joseph Wade Wisdom, 33, initially was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the March 8 death of Stahl Lee Sturgeon, who was found dead inside his Toyota Camry on the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Poplar Bluff.

Wisdom was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, and five counts of armed criminal action by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher.

Wisdom appeared Monday before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth for a review of his case. Bloodworth set Wisdom’s preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. April 22.

According to earlier reports, Sturgeon died inside his Toyota Camry of gunshot wounds to the neck and chest.

Authorities initially believed the 50-year-old Doniphan, Missouri, man had been shot inside his car on the Wal-Mart parking lot. But as officers pieced together witness statements, they learned the shooting happened on U.S. 67 South.

Based on the investigation, officers say Sturgeon picked Wisdom up on Highway 160 near Hillview sometime before 7 a.m.

While en route to Poplar Bluff, authorities believe Sturgeon retrieved a large-caliber handgun from the car’s center console when Wisdom began displaying erratic behavior, and a struggle ensued, resulting in shots being fired inside the car.

Wisdom is accused of firing shots at passing motorists before trying to remove Sturgeon from the car. Unable to do so, Wisdom then drove himself to Wal-Mart seated in Sturgeon’s lap.

Wisdom was arrested when Poplar Bluff police officers found him lying prone inside Wal-Mart’s north entry doors after their arrival at 7:10 a.m.

When officers checked Sturgeon’s car, parked in a driving lane about 25 yards from the Market entrance, he was found belted in and slumped over in the driver’s seat.

Before reaching Wal-Mart, Wisdom is accused of pointing a gun at a motorist on U.S. 67 and firing shots at two others.

At the time of his arrest, Wisdom said Sturgeon had shot him first in the finger. Wisdom did not have any injuries consistent with being shot, Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs said.

When Wisdom was interviewed after his arrest, he said he had been using methamphetamine and had not slept in “some time.” He also said he had been given “some ‘bad dope.’”

Officers learned from witnesses the night of March 7 and the morning of March 8, Wisdom had made such statements as: “They’ve got guns, and they’re trying to kill me.”

Authorities also said Wisdom called 911 himself Tuesday morning, saying people were trying to kill him.