Shooting suspect remains in custody

A Sarcoxie man is facing charges that he shot his brother Wednesday morning at a residence in northeast Jasper County.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said a deputy was flagged down in Carthage at 9:23 a.m. Wednesday by the girlfriend of Lon L. Taylor, 39, of rural Golden City. Taylor was in the passenger seat of his girlfriend’s car with two gunshot wounds to his legs, the Sheriff’s Department said.

An ambulance was summoned to take Taylor to a hospital for treatment of the wounds.

Deputies learned that Taylor allegedly had been shot at his residence at 16516 Highway 37 by his brother, Louie L. Taylor, 43, of Sarcoxie. Deputies subsequently arrested Louie L. Taylor at his home at 302 Maple Road.

Louie Taylor remained in custody today at the Jasper County Jail. A charge of first-degree domestic assault was filed against him this afternoon. The Sheriff’s Department said that charges of unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action also are being sought against Louie Taylor.

Capt. Derek Walrod said an investigation showed that Louie Taylor shot three times at his brother with a handgun. One of the bullets is believed to have passed through both of Lon Taylor’s legs.

Walrod said the wounded brother then reportedly shot back at Louie Taylor with a shotgun loaded with birdshot as the older brother was attempting to leave the area. He said one or both of those shots may have struck Louie Taylor’s vehicle, but he escaped injury.