Marshall Man Pushing Shopping Cart Loaded With Two Shotguns Arrested

On Tuesday, June 24, Saline County E911 received a call about a suspicious person near the 200 block of East Eastwood, knocking on doors, and pushing a shopping cart containing shotguns.

Upon an Officer’s arrival, they made contact with a person they identified as John Robert Hooper, 26, of Marshall.

The officer told Hooper the reason for their contact, and the officer observed a shotgun in the shopping cart. Mr. Hooper told the officer there were two shotguns in the shopping cart.

Hooper attempted to gain possession of one shotgun the officer had laid on the ground, and soon Mr. Hooper and the officer struggled to gain possession of the shotgun. During the struggle, the shotgun discharged, causing one round to be shot into the ground, according to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers were able to secure Mr. Hooper in handcuffs and located in his possession a glass pipe containing Methamphetamine residue and shotgun ammunition in the pocket of his pants.

While inventorying Hooper's shopping cart, it was discovered that he had a homemade explosive device and a homemade incendiary device. Hooper was arrested and transported to the Saline County Jail.

Also on Tuesday, the Marshall Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Missouri State Highway Patrol executed a search warrant at Hooper’s residence and recovered baggies of methamphetamine, epi-pens prescribed to the Marshall Public Schools, drug paraphernalia, multiple pieces of copper believed to be taken from Eastwood Elementary School, a Lenovo computer owned by Marshall Public Schools, NEC Projector belonging to the Marshall Public Schools, multiple wi-fi antennas and two incendiary devices made of glass fuel bottles.

Hooper was booked into the Saline County Detention Center at 2:31 a.m. June 24 with no bond. He now faces charges of 1st Degree Assault,  Armed Criminal Action, unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

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Anyone having additional information regarding this incident you are encouraged to contact the Marshall Police Department at 886-7411 or email info@marshallpolice.com.

Note: Charges contained in reports provided by law enforcement officials are not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting charges must be presented before a jury, whose duty is to determine if the accused is guilty or not guilty of the charges.