Missouri man accused of attempted murder during 2019 police chase has more amended charges

Jury trial set for Jared Queen to begin Monday

A third amendment was filed in Washington County Court Friday during the final pretrial hearing for a Missouri man who allegedly led police on a multi-county chase and shootout.

Jared Queen, 42, of Saint. Clair, MO, faces attempted first degree murder charges after being accused d of leading Centralia and Wamac police officers on a 30-minute pursuit through several jurisdictions before it ended in Coulterville.

According to charging documents filed in Washington County Court, authorities attempted to make a traffic stop on a Jaguar after reports came in about a domestic abuse occurring in the backseat. Instead of pulling over, the driver sped off at a high rate of speed.

The pursuit continued through Washington County on U.S. Route 51 until the vehicle turned west onto Illinois Route 177. Court documents indicate that Queen allegedly began firing a rifle at officers from the driver’s side door. Maria A. Moore of Wright City, MO, reportedly began firing from the sunroof.

Also during the hearing, Judge Gross ruled that a cell phone photo and video would be admissible during the trial. It was also determined that prior criminal convictions would also be allowed in court proceedings.

Queen had been charged with multiple Class X felonies, including eight for aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer and two attempted murder charges. He was also accused of aggravated fleeing police, a Class 4 felony, and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Some of the original charges had been amended prior to Friday’s final pretrial hearing. The state has filed to dismiss quite a few of the charges, including one of the two attempted first degree murder charges, seven of the aggravated discharge of a firearm at an officer counts, a count of a possessing a firearm by a felon and a count of armed violence.

The attempted first degree murder charging documents stated the both defendants both fired a .410 shotgun “knowing that such act created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.”

Queen and Moore have remained in the Washington County Jail since the arrest. Bond had been set at $3 million each.

The trial is set to begin Monday. If convicted of attempted murder, Queen could face between 20 and 80 years in The Illinois Department of Corrections.

A jury trial for Moore is set to begin in October.