Galena man who shot at Joplin police officers sentenced to 13 years

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Galena, Kansas, man who shot at police officers during a high-speed pursuit from Joplin, Mo., into Kansas was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

Adam Everett Kastler, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On Feb. 6, 2024, Kastler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kastler admitted he was in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun on Feb. 23, 2023.

Joplin, Mo., police officers spotted Kastler, who had outstanding arrest warrants, inside a Chevrolet Tahoe that was pulled over in a traffic stop on 7th Street. Kastler, who was in the passenger’s seat, pointed a firearm at the driver and said he would shoot him if he did not flee from the police. Instead, the driver got out of the vehicle and laid on the ground.

After the driver got out of the vehicle, Kastler moved from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat and fled from the scene with the officers in pursuit. Kastler drove through town at high rates of speed, ignoring multiple stop signs. The pursuit continued into Kansas, where deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the pursuit.

Officers saw Kastler shooting at them from the vehicle before he lost control and crashed. Kastler was arrested. Officers found the loaded firearm on the center console and two spent shell casings laying on the driver’s side floorboard. Officers also found a methamphetamine glass smoking pipe with residue, three cell phones, and four open containers of alcohol.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Kastler has prior felony convictions for distributing methamphetamine and aggravated domestic battery.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Cherokee County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.