A Missouri man who shot at police and was himself wounded by officers on the grounds of the midtown location of Casey’s General Store more than two years ago entered a guilty plea to charges filed against him, was sentenced to 30 years in prison during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
Forty-three-year-old Kevin Donovan of Adrian, Missouri, was charged with five counts of criminal attempt to commit capital murder, resisting arrest and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
SUICIDE BY COP
Donovan’s wife, who was at the scene of the shooting in late March 2021, told police her husband had indicated he had no intention of going back to jail. She told investigators she believed, “Kevin was going to force a gunfight with the police, no matter the outcome.” She also said it was “likely” her husband “was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the encounter.”
The incident began when a representative of a Missouri bail bond company asked an agent from First Arkansas Bail Bonds in Mountain Home to assist taking Donovan into custody. The two bail bond agents located Donovan riding a motorcycle and followed him in separate vehicles. He pulled into the parking lot at the Casey’s location along U.S. Highway 62 East and stopped at one of the gas pumps.
An officer from the Mountain Home Police Department (MHPD) arrived on scene to assist with the capture of the fugitive. When the Missouri bail bond agent and the Mountain Home officer confronted Donovan, he quickly indicated being arrested was not on his agenda for the day.
During the confrontation, Donovan is said to have become increasingly aggressive and belligerent. The MHPD officer told Donovan he needed to comply with the bail bond agent’s request, but Donovan refused, saying that he “was not going anywhere.”
Another MHPD officer arrived to assist in what was rapidly becoming a very tense stand off, followed by a Arkansas State Police trooper and later by emergency medical personal from Baxter Health.
Donovan began walking west out of the parking lot at Casey’s and continued walking in the grassy area toward the Arvest Bank branch.
GUN PULLED
He is alleged to have pulled a .380-caliber pistol from under his jacket and when he saw officers and the two bail bond agents moving toward him, he fired the handgun. The MHPD officer drew their weapons and attempted to talk Donovan into dropping his gun, but he refused. At one point, he is alleged to have told those attempting to take him into custody, “You are going to have to kill me.”
After Donovan shot at the officer and the bail bond agents and refused all requests to drop his weapon, one of the MHPD officers returned fire and hit Donovan who went down. Officers rendered aid to wounded man until a Baxter Health ambulance arrived. He was first taken to Baxter Health and then transferred to a hospital in Springfield.
Court records show that after being treated for the gun shot wound in Springfield, he was taken into custody by the Missouri Department of Corrections. Records in that state showed an open case charging Donovan with possession of methamphetamine, unlawful use of a weapon and simultaneous possession of firearms and drugs. The Missouri charges show to have been filed after a search warrant was served at Donovan’s residence located along West 5th Street in Adrian.
He was eventually brought from the DeKalb County Regional Jail to Mountain Home and booked into the Baxter County Detention Center on September 15, 2021.
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