Joplin man arrested after shooting injures two Monday night

A man from Joplin is in custody after a shooting injured two men Monday night.

Joplin Police say at 8:26 p.m., they received a 911 call of gunshots in the area of around 1731 S. Annie Baxter Avenue.

Officers found a 19-year-old male victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen in front of the home and a 20-year-old male victim was located inside the residence with multiple gunshot wound injuries to both legs.

Aid was rendered on scene until the victims could be transported to area hospitals for further treatment. Both victims are considered to be in serious but stable condition.

The suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Austin D.W. Bryant, of Joplin, had fled the scene prior to officers arriving.

As officers were checking the area they observed suspicious activity at 1515 W. 20th Street in Joplin. While at that location, Bryant was contacted and taken into custody for 3 Joplin Failure to Appear warrants.

It was determined that Bryant had shot the victims while attempting to steal marijuana from one of them.

Based on security concerns and the possibility of other involved suspects being at this location, the Joplin Police Department SWAT Team was activated and responded to the scene.

On the morning of Tuesday, June 18th, a warrant for this address was obtained and no other individuals were located inside. Detectives with the Joplin Police Department responded and are actively investigating this incident.

Austin D.W. Bryant remains in custody in the Joplin City Jail and charges for Assault in the First Degree (2 counts), Armed Criminal Action (2 counts), and Robbery in the 1st Degree are being forwarded to the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.

The Joplin Police Department asks that anyone with information regarding this incident to please contact Detective Corporal Josh Hanes at 417-623-3131 x1693.

Further details may be released as information becomes available.