Jefferson City Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Following Fatal Shooting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Jefferson City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing the firearm he used to shoot and kill another person.

Paris Mark Alexander-Henderson, 27, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Jefferson City police officers responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of Elizabeth Street at approximately 1 a.m. on April 25, 2015. Witnesses indicated that Alexander-Henderson shot the victim, Bryant Sturkey. Sturkey was in critical condition due to several gunshot wounds, including one to his torso. Sturkey was transported to the hospital by ambulance but died of his wounds.

Alexander-Henderson admitted to officers that he had shot Sturkey. Officers seized a Girsan .45-caliber pistol, which he had used to shoot Sturkey, from Alexander-Henderson’s residence.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Alexander-Henderson has a prior felony conviction of aggravated DUI.

Under federal statutes, Alexander-Henderson is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department.