On Thursday, March 5, a Lafayette County jury found Theaun Hardridge guilty of multiple felony charges relating to a shooting incident just over a year ago.
According to Lafayette County Prosecutor Kristen Ellis Hilbrenner, this case began on March 1, 2019, when the defendant exhibited a gun at the victim in the 7th Heaven parking lot in Higginsville. Hardridge then shot at the victim twice as he was trying to get away. The defendant and his driver then led law enforcement on a high-speed chase for approximately 20 miles, which ended when the defendant’s vehicle became disabled. Both the defendant and his driver were taken into custody.
Hardridge was found guilty of two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action, assault in the second degree and resisting a lawful stop. The verdicts were reached following a 2 1/2-day jury trial.
Formal sentencing is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 20.