Suspect in Jackson shootout to appear for preliminary hearing Aug. 30

The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a Jackson man accused of getting into a shootout with police in June.

Prosecutors will lay out their case against Lawrence Anthony Guthrie, 46, at 1 p.m. Aug. 30, in front of Circuit Court Judge Gary Kamp, according to online records. Bryan Greaser was named Guthrie's attorney Monday.

He is being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail on $500,000 bond on three charges of first-degree assault on law enforcement officers, a charge of first-degree domestic assault and a charge of armed criminal action.

The Jackson Police Department responded to a 911 call from Guthrie's wife reporting domestic violence with gunfire in progress at 1240 Broadridge Drive shortly before 4 p.m. June 13, Jackson Lt. Scott Eakers said in a probable-cause statement. Dispatchers reported they could hear gunfire in the background.

When officers arrived on the scene, they spotted a man pointing a rifle at them and firing, according to the probable-cause statement. The man turned out to be Guthrie, police said. Guthrie fled into a woody area and later got into another gunfight with other law enforcement officers, the statement said.

The incident came to a close when Guthrie turned a handgun on himself and shot himself in the chin, officials said. An AR-15 rifle and a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun were recovered at the scene where Guthrie was shot. Guthrie was taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after the incident. He was hospitalized for about a month after the incident.

"I expect to call four eyewitnesses," Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said. "I don't think it will be a real long hearing."

Greaser said Guthrie is a former U.S. Marine, and Greaser anticipates exploring the possibility of using Guthrie's Veterans Administration medical records to show that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Greaser said it is possible Guthrie will plead not guilty by reason of insanity and they will try to show Guthrie "wasn't competent to appreciate the nature and wrongfulness of his conduct at the time of the alleged offense."

Pertinent address:

1240 Broadridge Drive, Jackson, MO

100 Court St., Jackson, MO