Clara Blaxton Obituary, Death; – An individual from Arkansas is facing charges of assault and armed criminal action following an incident that occurred on Sunday in Jefferson County. Authorities report that the suspect, who was in possession of a deceased woman, discharged a firearm from his vehicle in Festus before being apprehended by law enforcement.
Jarrett Cousins, 40, from Bradford, Arkansas, is currently being held without bail. Law enforcement responded to reports of gunfire in Festus on Sunday. When officers attempted to stop Cousins’ vehicle, he fled the scene, ultimately colliding with a concrete barrier on Highway 67 in Crystal City.
Cousins was equipped with body armor and was armed with several weapons. Court documents indicate that he fired a weapon in an unspecified direction, prompting officers to return fire, resulting in a gunshot wound to his abdomen. When he aimed a weapon at the police, they fired again. Cousins is now in critical condition at a hospital in the St. Louis area.
The deceased woman found in the vehicle has been identified as Clara Blaxton, believed to have been in a relationship with Cousins. The investigation into her cause of death is ongoing, with authorities confirming that she died in Arkansas. Local investigators have traveled to Arkansas to assist in the inquiry, which also involves the FBI and the Arkansas State Police.
