After more than seven hours of deliberations, a Buchanan County jury found 39-year-old St. Joseph man guilty of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in relation to a 2019 incident.
According to the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Eric D. Busey was charged after it was reported he became involved in a high speed motor vehicle chase after approaching two individuals at Woods Mini Mart located on Frederick Avenue shortly after midnight on May 1, 2019. When the two subjects attempted to leave, Busey, chased after them and witnesses testified hearing four or more gunshots fired from the vehicle Busey was driving.
Police officers were dispatched to the area of North 11th and Highly Street after multiple calls were received concerning shots fired. Upon their arrival they found spent shell casings on Highly Street and on North 11th Street.
Busey testified on his own behalf during the trial stating he had no idea shots were going to be fired from his vehicle before they actually were.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Michelle Davidson, tried the case for the State. She argued Busey didn’t stop chasing the victims after the gunfire began and only stopped chasing them when the other passengers in his vehicle told him to stop. Busey originally told Detective Frank Till with the St. Joseph Police Department that a passenger in the vehicle had fired the gun because it was new and he was just trying it out.
Sentencing on the case is set for April, 2, 2020, in front of the Honorable Patrick Robb.