Argument leads to fatal shooting in Caruthersville

Update 11:30 a.m.

The Daily Dunklin Democrat newspaper reported Tuesday morning that the name of the man charged in connection with the incident is Michael Watkins, the victim's brother-in-law.

Original story

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. - A back yard argument ended in a fatal shooting, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

At 7:45 p.m. Sunday, Caruthersville police officers were called to 1215 Madison following a report of a shooting. Upon arrival officers found family members doing CPR on Stephen McCall, 43, of Caruthersville.

CPR was continued until the arrival of the ambulance crew, which transported McCall to a Hayti Hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Caruthersville City Marshal Chris Riggs said an investigation began with the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drugs and Crime Control and the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department.

Apparently McCall and a suspect were drinking in the back yard of McCall's home.

"Investigators learned that a verbal altercation had taken place in the victim's backyard between the victim and the suspect," Riggs said in a news release. The altercation escalated, prompting the suspect to go home. He then returned carrying a semi-automatic rifle.

"The suspect fired and struck the victim in the chest area one time with (a bullet from) the rifle," Riggs said.

A 19-year-old male, whose name was not released, is being held in the Pemiscot County Jail for the shooting. He is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

McCall's body was to be taken Monday to the Mineral Area Medical Center in Farmington for an autopsy.