Cape Girardeau man suffers gunshot wound, later is arrested

Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s deputies booked a 32-year-old Cape Girardeau man Wednesday, who was shot in the shoulder late Tuesday night, into Cape Girardeau County Jail on three charges.

Derick Deshawn Tucker, 32, was released from a hospital Wednesday and taken to jail. The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s office charged Tucker with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon, in this case a short-barreled shotgun.

Cape Girardeau County EMTs carried Tucker out of a house in the 700 block of North Middle Street just after midnight after he suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder, said Sgt. Adam Glueck of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

He was conscious and moving his arms as rescuers carried him in a stretcher toward an ambulance. The man was reluctant to receive medical treatment when officers arrived at the house on North Middle Street and so far has been uncooperative in the investigation after he was taken to a hospital, Glueck said.

Hospital staff found cocaine in Tucker’s possession as he received medical treatment, and they alerted police, Glueck said. The cocaine was packaged in a way that indicated it was intended for sale, Glueck said. Glueck declined to say how much cocaine Tucker allegedly possessed.

Officers responded to a shots-fired call at the 500 block of North Fountain Street at 11:19 p.m., Glueck said. The shooting victim was taken to the house on Middle Street in a vehicle, Glueck said. Officers detained a different man suspected to be involved with Tucker, but he was released Wednesday without charges, Glueck said.

Glueck declined to say how many shots were fired on Fountain Street.

A Nissan Titan pickup truck was shot during the incident and later towed, Glueck said. Police found a sawed-off shotgun inside the vehicle and connected the weapon to Tucker, Glueck said.

Tucker pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic assault April 2, 2012, and again Jan. 21, 2014. Tucker had two active warrants at the time of his arrest Wednesday: a probation and parole warrant without a bond and a Cape Girardeau County warrant for failure to appear for two counts of nonsupport in arrears for more than 12 months with a bond of $6,000 cash or surety. Tucker’s bond on his most recent charges was set at $50,000 cash or surety.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

700 block of North Middle Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.