Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.052 : — CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERSOFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON — Assault, second degree, penalty TEXT PDF 1. A person commits the offense of assault in the second degree if he or she: (1) Attempts to kill or knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical injury to another person under the influence of sudden passion arising out of adequate cause; or (2) Attempts to cause or knowingly causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; or (3) Recklessly causes serious physical injury to another person; or (4) Recklessly causes physical injury to another person by means of discharge of a firearm. 2. The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section. 3. The offense of assault in the second degree is a class D felony, unless the victim of such assault is a special victim, as the term "special victim" is defined under section 565.002, in which case it is a class B felony. § 565.052, RSMo Added by 2014 Mo. Laws, SB 491,s A, eff. 1/1/2017.