Jeffrey Burnett, 52, formerly of High Ridge, has been charged with eight felonies for allegedly firing shots at a west St. Louis County business and several vehicles while fleeing from authorities on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The man was arrested after his motorcycle crashed along I-44 in Eureka, authorities reported.
The St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Burnett, who currently lives in Ballwin, with four counts of unlawful use of a weapon, each one a class B felony that carries a penalty of five to 15 years in prison, and four counts of armed criminal action, each one an unclassified felony punishable by three years to 15 years in prison. He was being held June 14 in the St. Louis County Jail on a $350,000 cash-only bond, court documents show.
The incident began at about 6:15 p.m. June 12, when Burnett reportedly fired shots while riding a westbound motorcycle near Silky’s Frozen Custard, 16043 Manchester Road, in Ellisville. The business was struck by the gunfire, and the building’s front glass door and a commercial freezer were damaged, the probable-cause statement in the case said.
Burnett continued to ride west on Manchester Road and reportedly shot at two vehicles, including a white Ford Explorer near the intersection of Manchester Road and Old State Road and another vehicle just east of Ellisville Towne Center near the intersection of Manchester and Strecker roads. No injuries were reported from the shots fired at the Explorer, but the driver of the second vehicle was cut by glass, the report said.
Burnett continued riding west on Manchester Road, which turned into Hwy. 100 in Wildwood, and he allegedly shot at a 2019 Nissan Rogue near Hwy. 109. The driver-side window on the Rogue was shattered, and broken glass cut the driver’s leg, according to the report.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper followed Burnett on Hwy. 100, with Burnett reportedly traveling at speeds between 80 and 90 mph and running a red light when he turned east onto West Osage Street. Then, Burnett got onto eastbound I-44 in Eureka, and he allegedly pointed a gun at the trooper and motorists, the report said.
The chase ended at about 7 p.m., when the motorcycle crashed in a grassy area near I-44 and Six Flags Road. Burnett allegedly ran away but was arrested after a short chase, the probable-cause statement said.
Eureka Police officers arrested Burnett and transported him to the St. Louis County Jail, said Lt. Michael Werges of the Eureka Police Department.
Burnett allegedly had a Mac-10 gun when he was arrested, and shell casings found near the areas where he allegedly fired shots matched the gun. In addition, while Burnett was being treated for injuries at an area hospital, he allegedly admitted to firing the gun, the report said.
St. Louis Police reported that Burnett worked at the Pageant on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis and was a disgruntled employee. Earlier that day, he allegedly spray-painted graffiti on the Pageant’s windows and on the sidewalk and flower planters outside the concert venue and fled the scene in a truck, running over numerous barricades in the process.
Court records also show Burnett had been charged with fourth-degree assault, a class C misdemeanor tied to a Feb. 11 incident in St. Charles County.
A class C misdemeanor is punishable by up to 15 days in jail and a possible fine up to $700.