Suspect, victims identified in apparent Joplin double homicide-suicide

Joplin Police say the suspect wanted in connection to a double homicide Monday night has died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

Police identifying him as 34-year-old David L. Rush, of Wyandotte, Oklahoma.

Rush was involved in an incident in Newton County Wednesday morning after Oklahoma officials pursued him into Missouri on Highway 60.

Police say he turned south on Antelope Road before he got out of his vehicle on foot while armed with a handgun.

Newton County Deputies, MSHP, Seneca Officers and Oklahoma Officers established a perimeter to negotiate with Rush, who requested to speak with Joplin Police detectives over the phone.

Rush reportedly displayed his firearm numerous times and after approximately 3 hours of negotiations, he shot himself.

It all stems from a Halloween night shooting at 2216 S. Annie Baxter Ave., where police found 35-year-old Stacy Rush, of Joplin, and 35-year-old Eric Stampfli of Grove, Oklahoma, dead.

Autopsies for those two will take place Thursday morning in Springfield.

Court documents show that Stacy Rush had filed for a divorce from the suspect in August and that a trial was scheduled to start Monday morning, but was cancelled after a proposed settlement was approved.