Three arrested after shots fired near downtown
January 18, 2022
Two teens and a 33-year-old have been charged with a combined nine felonies following shots fired north of downtown Charleston on Jan. 14.
Charleston Police Department officers responded to 1105 Vine Ave. at 1:14 p.m. to respond to shots fired when they were told a blue truck was fleeing the area. The vehicle was located shortly after on Route 16, west of Ashmore, five people were taken into custody and two guns were located.
The three individuals charged are Matthew Burgett, 18, of Kansas; Austin Youngwolfe, 19, of Marshall; and Adam Pickens, 33, of Terre Haute.
Police say Burgett admitted to firing a .32-caliber pistol at two individuals, a 22-year-old male and 17-year-old male, at the residence. He is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm, mob action and defacing identification marks on a fireman.
Burgett said he began shooting because one of the individuals at the residence pulled a pistol from his waistband, according to police. He said he then got into the truck and left.
Youngwolfe told police he came to Charleston to confront the 22-year-old male over an issue with a female. He told police that as the group began to argue, the 22-year-old male pulled a pistol from his waistband and Burgett began shooting.
Youngwolfe said he had a pistol in the vehicle, but he did not grab or fire it. He also told police the 17-year-old male had a baseball bat when he had arrived with Burgett and Pickens.
Police say they discovered that Youngwolfe and the 22-year-old male had planned the meeting.
Pickens, the driver, is charged with mob action and possession of a controlled substance.
Police say Pickens was driving the vehicle that fled the location of the incident. Pickens also admitted that cocaine found in the vehicle was his, according to the police report.
All three men are scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Jan. 27.
Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at deneic@gmail.com.