A St. Joseph man is accused of shooting at a vehicle on 59 highway and then holding a resident at gunpoint for keys to a truck which eventually got stuck in a muddy field.
Zachary Bixby, 23 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of unlawful use of a weapon.
According to court documents, around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday Bixby and another man were spotted near the Dollar General Store on King Hill Avenue in a stolen Volkswagen Beetle. Capt. Shawn Collie with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said two people tried to confront the men, one of which knew the vehicle had been stolen earlier in the morning from a friend. Bixby and the other man allegedly fled the area in the stolen vehicle and the witnesses followed.
They continued into the area of the 9000 block of S. 59 Highway where the stolen vehicle allegedly slowed down and pulled over onto the shoulder of the northbound lane.
“According to victim and witness statements, Bixby and Butts exited the Volkswagen Beetle and Bixby began firing a handgun at the vehicle,” Collie said.
One round hit the hood of the other vehicle. The men allegedly split-up and went in separate directions. Collie said Bixby ran into a home in the 8900 block of 59 HWY.
“Once inside, Bixby came into contact with the homeowner who advised Bixby pointed a handgun at him saying he wanted the keys to his vehicle,” Collie said. “He told Bixby the keys were in the vehicle and Bixby left the residence and entered (the victim’s) Ford F-150.”
Court documents said Bixby drove the stolen pickup a short distance into a field where he got stuck. After running from the truck on foot he was taken into custody.
“A search of the route that Bixby used to flee from the pickup was conducted and investigators located a loaded SCCY 9 mm handgun,” Collie said.
The second man was taken into custody on 59 HWY just north of where the shooting took place.
Bixby is also wanted on a felony warrant out of Clay County for first-degree robbery. He is due in court Tuesday morning for an arraignment. Bixby is currently being held without bail in the Buchanan County Jail.