August shooting suspect enters guilty plea

A 21-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court to breaking into a home and shooting the resident.

Cornelius Johnson, 21, admitted he entered 143 S. Spanish St. on Aug. 5 and shot John Murphy with a handgun during a home-invasion style burglary. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, first-degree burglary and armed criminal action.

His accomplice, Ivory C. Alexander, 19, pleaded guilty July 14 to first-degree attempted robbery. Alexander will be sentenced Aug. 4.

Murphy was shot trying to escape the house. The bullet pierced his left arm, went through his torso, exiting the other side, and became lodged in his right wrist.

In exchange for his plea, Johnson's assault charge was amended from first- to second-degree and a first-degree attempted robbery charge was dismissed.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered by Judge John Heisserer and sentencing was set for Aug. 25. Johnson previously pleaded guilty in August 1999 to burglary and stealing a motor vehicle.