Bois D’Arc man sentenced in assault that hospitalized elderly woman

BOIS D’ARC, Mo. — A man has been sentenced to serve time in prison for an assault that sent both him and an elderly woman to the hospital.

Steven Burgess, 36, will serve 13 years in prison for first-degree domestic assault, second-degree assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

The incident happened in February 2021. Deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) responded to the 12000 block of West Farm Road 124 after a 911 call taker heard gunfire in the background of a domestic disturbance call.

A probable cause statement showed deputies learned en route a female had possibly shot a man in the chest, and that an 82-year-old woman had been hit in the face with a walker.

The elderly woman later told GCSO that Burgess had intentionally hit her with the walker, then approached with the shotgun and fired it above her head. She also told investigators that Burgess had been drinking.

The woman who called 911 had come to help the elderly woman. During the incident, Burgess had pointed the rifle at one of the two children who were with the caller.

Court documents say the female caller saw Burgess leave the home holding a scoped .308 rifle and approach the vehicle that they were inside. Burgess tried opening the driver’s door, but it was locked. He then stepped back and aimed the rifle at one of the children in the car.

The female caller feared for the child’s safety, opened the car door and fired one shot at Burgess with her pistol.

Burgess told deputies he had been drinking with his boss, then drove home where he thought he had gotten into an argument with his family, but didn’t remember much more.

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