Police still trying identify shooter who left three Cape teens wounded

By Rudi Keller

Southeast Missourian

Cape Girardeau police are seeking help to identify a suspect or suspects who wounded three teens Wednesday evening on South Hanover Street.

Investigators recovered evidence identifying the type of gun used to wound the three, all males, but have not been able to determine who fired the shots.

Officers responded about 8:15 p.m. to a report of shots fired at 132 S. Hanover St. When they arrived, they found Ronald Wright, 18, of Chicago with a leg wound and Mario Clemons Jr. of Charleston, Mo., with a bullet wound through his shoulder. A 14-year-old boy with a wound described by Hovis as a “grazing wound” had left the scene and was found near Merriwether and Benton streets.

The department is withholding information about the gun as part of the ongoing investigation, he said.

On Thursday, detectives conducted additional interviews with possible witnesses and the victims in an attempt to determine the identity of the shooter or shooters, Hovis said.

“I don’t know if we were able to determine where the shooter was standing,” Hovis said.

Some people reported seeing a muzzle flash but due to darkness were unable to identify if there were one or more assailants, Hovis said.

“We have heard differing accounts of why this occurred,” he said. “We have heard it may be retaliation for something that happened in the past.” That story, however, has not been confirmed, Hovis said.

Identifying the suspect could be difficult because no one reported seeing the shooter in the initial round of interviews, Hovis said.

The 14-year-old was treated and released. Hovis was unsure if either of the other two shooting victims remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon.

Police are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about the shooting. Callers may make an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers at 332-0500.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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