A district judge sentenced a a Fayette County man to 32 years in federal prison after he shot at law enforcement agents serving an arrest warrant at his residence.
The U.S. attorney for Southern Illinois reports 47-year-old Dax Baldrige of St. Elmo pleaded guilty in January to seven counts of assault of a federal officer, two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
In October 2022, Baldridge shot at task force members with the U.S. Marshals Service who attempted to serve an arrest warrant.
He used a stolen short barrel rifle equipped with 60 rounds of ammunition to shoot through the wall of his residence, nearly striking multiple officers.
After firing at officers, Baldrige barricaded himself in his residence and engaged in a standoff with law enforcement that lasted over 10 hours.
Following his arrest, investigating agents conducted a search of Baldrige’s residence and recovered nine firearms including six rifles, a revolver, two pistols and ammunition.
