Charges filed in Caruthersville murder case

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A 50-year-old man has been charged by Pemiscot County Prosecutors in connection with a Wednesday shooting.

According to officials, Charles Cecil has been formerly charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection to the shooting death of Stephen "Stevie" Francis Smith, 29, of Caruthersville.

According to a report prepared by City Marshal Chris Riggs, at approximately 4 p.m., Wednesday, officers were dispatched to a residence at the 1300 block of Zaida Avenue in reference to a man, later identified Smith, who was beating on the door of the home, covered in blood.

Investigators arrived to the scene to find Smith lying on the front porch, bloodied and in obvious distress. Medical attention was provided until an ambulance from Hayti, Mo., was able to reach the scene. However, the emergency responders' efforts were unsuccessful, and after several minutes of attempting to save the man's life, he was pronounced dead as a result of his injuries. Pemiscot County Coroner Jim Brimhall assisted in the case.

During the investigation, officers followed a trail of blood left by the victim to a house next door, where they attempted to make contact with the occupant of the home located at 1309 Zaida Ave. According to Riggs, when officers knocked on the door of the residence, Cecil ran up to the door from inside the residence and tried to close it. Cecil was immediately subdued and was named the main person of interest in he case. He was arrested, questioned and processed by police.

Riggs said that a search of the residence was conducted and it was determined that the home was the initial crime scene. Officers secured the residence and waited for a warrant to launch a full investigation where they collected evidence pertaining to the crime.

"Further investigation revealed that the white male victim was the apparent victim of at least one gun shot wound," Riggs explained in his written report. "Evidence at the scene indicated that the altercation took place inside the residence and then the deceased victim fled the scene in attempt to get help for his injuries staggering from one residence to the next."

Cecil remained in custody at the Pemiscot County Justice Center, and is being held on no bond, with an expected appearance in court set for 10 a.m. on Monday before Judge Byron Luber.

Smith was transported to the Mineral Area Medical Facility in Farmington, Mo., where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, although early reports indicated that the victim received " at least one gunshot wound" following an altercation between the two individuals.

Pertinent address:

1309 Zaida Ave., Caruthersville, MO