Springfield Police say the incident began about 1:54 a.m. on Dec. 24 on the parking lot of a Kum & Go convenience store at 3352 E. Sunshine St. A green 2000 Toyota Camry, occupied by several people, backed into a black Ford Ranger.

After a short disturbance, police say, the Camry and its occupants fled and Moore chased it in his Ranger. At the intersection of Central Street at Sherman Avenue, on the Ozarks Technical Community College campus, the two vehicles drove around the roundabout several times.

Police say Moore tried to block the Camry as it tried to go north on Sherman. Then he fired a shot through the back window of the Camry, hitting passenger Michael Matthias in the back of the head.

“Matthias was taken to a local hospital and it was determined the bullet had entered the back of his head and traveled along the right side between his scalp and skull before coming to a stop. The bullet was not removed and Matthias was later released. Matthias was also told he would probably have chronic headaches,” a detective wrote in a probable cause statement.

Officers found five 9mm spent shell casings at the scene of the shooting.

This week, Crime Stoppers of Greater Springfield released photos of Moore taken by a security camera at the Kum & Go store. The next day, a citizen called police and identified Moore and where he lived.

“Later the same day I received a call from Moore and learned he had seen the Crime Stoppers information,” Cpl. Kevin Cantrell wrote. “Moore told me he wanted to come in and talk to me and arrived at Police Headquarters a short time later.”

The detective said Moore admitted that his truck had been hit at the store and he chased the care.

“Moore stated, ‘I didn’t mean to hit anybody’ and ‘had meant to scare them.’ I asked Moore what he meant when he said he didn’t mean to hit anybody. Moore said, ‘That I shot my gun at them’ and ‘or at the ground probably two or three times.’ Moore also added, ‘I was so angry.’”

The detective said Moore took him to his apartment, and showed him where his 9mm Ruger pistol was in a cabinet above the refrigerator.

A judge set Moore’s bond at $75,000. If he’s convicted, he could face prison sentences of five to 15 years for the assault and firearms charges, and at least three years for armed criminal action.