Change-of-plea hearing set for man who fired shots at Joplin police officers

A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. February 7 in U. S. District Court in Springfield for a Burlingame, Kansas man who shot at Joplin police officers February 24, 2023 when they were investigating him for another shooting.

Adam Everett Kastler, 36, Burlingame, Kansas, is charged with illegal possession of a firearm.

The Joplin Police Department has been searching for Kastler as a suspect in a February 7, 2023 shooting at 909 S. Monroe that sent a Joplin man to the hospital.

Officers found Kastler at 11:18 p.m. Friday when they tried to stop a white Chevrolet Tahoe at 2315 W. 7th Street, according to a department news release.

During the stop, Kastler forcefully stole the vehicle from the owner and fled the scene from officers.

During the pursuit, Kastler fired multiple gunshots at pursuing Joplin Police Officers at multiple points in the pursuit. The pursuit entered Kansas and the suspect vehicle crashed west of Galena. Kastler was taken into custody without further incident.

The news release noted that Kastler had active felony warrants out of Newton County and a Joplin Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear.