A second victim and the shooter have been identified in the Keytesville incident that occurred early on Friday morning.
Sherri Laws, 52, has been charged with two charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, and supply of a prohibited narcotic.
Both James Johnson, 50, and Jacob Abney, 38, were shot at her South Grand apartment, but Johnson was found alive.
According to the court filings, Laws said that she shot Abney after he broke into her house with a firearm, bound Johnson’s hands, and took 7 to 8 pounds of marijuana.
The probable cause statement names Johnson as her fiance, and Laws claims that he let Abney into the house.
Laws claimed in the statement that she gave Johnson her revolver and the two pursued Abney outside, where shots were fired.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol noted in their probable cause statement that there was evidence at the location suggesting Abney was shot and died during the attempted sale of the marijuana.
The statement claims that Laws contacted 911 and reported shooting an intruder, later revealed to be Abney. The statement also mentioned that Johnson had been shot twice, as required by the laws.
Law enforcement officers discovered Abney dead in the driver’s seat of a pickup truck and Johnson alive and suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower abdomen when they arrived at the home.
Chariton County law enforcement has Laws in custody, and he is being held without bail at the county jail.
This case is being looked at by the MSHP.
