Man accused of pulling out gun during Cooper County road-rage incident

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boonville man was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor after he was accused of pointing a gun at a truck driver Saturday on Interstate 70.

Cooper Pfeiffer was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and misdemeanor reckless driving. The probable cause statement says his hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22. A warrant was ordered on Monday, court filings show.

The probable cause statement says a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper saw and heard a semi-truck driver sounding his vehicle’s horn and “waving his arms aggressively” to get his attention. The trooper indicated he was going to get off the interstate at exit 106, but the truck driver stopped his tractor-trailer in the middle of Interstate 70 and told the officer someone had pointed an AR-15 at him, the statement says.

Pfeiffer allegedly tried to drive around the truck and patrol vehicle, but the victim was able to point his vehicle out, the statement says.

Pfeiffer allegedly told the trooper that the truck driver cut him off on the highway and the driver made obscene gestures, the statement says. He then allegedly claimed he pointed at the driver “imitating a firearm,” the statement says. The trooper found an AR-15 in Pfeiffer’s vehicle, but Pfeiffer claimed he only used it for hunting and that he had pointed at the gun during the exchange with the driver, court documents allege.

The truck driver allegedly told the trooper that Pfeiffer made an obscene gesture while passing the truck and that Pfeiffer pointed the gun at him, the statement says.

Pfeiffer then allegedly told law enforcement that he did not have the gun on his shoulder, but “pointed it,” before restating he “pointed at it,” court documents allege.