Joplin man arrested for firing shots at vehicle

(From the Joplin Police Department)

09/18/2016 at 12:34 AM, Joplin Police responded to 1015 W. Junge Blvd. in reference to a report that a subject had fired several shots at a vehicle.

The primary victim was identified as Levi Winstead. Winstead had three passengers in his vehicle when he had observed a northbound vehicle on Porter Ave. near Junge.

Winstead was nearly forced off the road by the oncoming vehicle. Winstead turned around and followed the vehicle while he contacted Police Dispatch to report the careless driving.

Winstead followed the vehicle until arriving at 1015 W. Junge Blvd. (Officers later determined that the other vehicle was being driven by Christy Sweet.) Once Sweet had parked the vehicle at 1015 W. Junge Blvd., Winstead observed a subject walk out from the shadows, raised his right arm to reveal he was holding a black handgun.

Winstead stated that as he had heard a total of four gunshots. He heard a bullet hit his truck and what appeared to be the sound of glass shattering. Winstead’s front passenger door had been struck by a bullet.

Winstead signed a complaint against Sweet for careless driving and Sweet was taken into custody for careless driving.

Investigators determined that the shooting suspect was Donald B. Loomis, 34, Joplin. On 09/21/16, at approximately 8:00 PM, Joplin Police located Loomis on a motorcycle in the 2000 block of Bird Ave.

Loomis fled from apprehension and his motorcycle was located in the area of 17th and Jackson. Loomis was located and arrested a brief time later near 15th and Picher.

Loomis has been arrested for Assault 1st Degree and charges were forwarded to the Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office.