On July 14, 2021, a fatal shooting occurred outside a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Springfield, Missouri, resulting in the death of 33-year-old Tanner L. Stichka. The incident took place during the noon hour at the store located at 1320 South Glenstone Avenue. Police officers were dispatched to the scene following reports of a shooting and arrived to find Stichka suffering from a gunshot wound near the entrance of the business.
Despite receiving immediate medical attention, the male victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Stichka had approached a parked van near the store's entrance prior to the shooting. A verbal or physical altercation ensued between Stichka and the driver of the vehicle, identified as Robert D. Weiser, a 45-year-old resident of Bentonville, Arkansas. Weiser was at the location in his capacity as a delivery driver, transporting pharmaceuticals to the store’s pharmacy. During the confrontation, Weiser produced a firearm and shot Stichka.
Following the shooting, law enforcement officers arrested Weiser on suspicion of second-degree murder, and he was booked into the Greene County Jail. However, his detention was short-lived. The Greene County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the details of the case and declined to file formal charges against Weiser at that time. Consequently, Weiser was released from custody the following day, less than 24 hours after the incident occurred.
In the aftermath of the shooting, police discovered Stichka’s dog, a husky named Zeke, locked inside the victim's car in the parking lot. The animal had been left alone for approximately 90 minutes while the investigation unfolded. Officers from the Springfield Police Department were able to retrieve the dog from the unlocked vehicle and transported him to a local veterinarian for care. A member of the community donated funds to cover the veterinary costs, and Zeke was subsequently reunited with Stichka’s family.
