custom ad
NewsMarch 19, 2002

A coroner's inquest has been called to determine whether Winford S. Griffith's death was justifiable or if a felony was committed against him. Griffith, 64, of Cape Girardeau died as the result of an armed confrontation in a local bar that ended a trail of gunfire from Fruitland, Mo., to Good Hope Street...

By Andrea L. Buchanan, Southeast Missourian

A coroner's inquest has been called to determine whether Winford S. Griffith's death was justifiable or if a felony was committed against him.

Griffith, 64, of Cape Girardeau died as the result of an armed confrontation in a local bar that ended a trail of gunfire from Fruitland, Mo., to Good Hope Street.

Police said Friday morning Griffith forced his way into a friend's home in Fruitland and fired shots at her as she fled. He then drove to Star Vue mobile home park near Kingshighway and shot another woman in the head.

By noon Friday, Griffith had died in the Southeast Missouri Hospital emergency room about two hours after an armed confrontation with Cleo Johns, his best friend since the eighth grade.

Mary Boitnott, the woman he shot in the head, remained in critical condition late Monday at St. Francis Medical Center.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner Mike Hurst said his goal is to find out how Griffith's death occurred.

"We want to know if this occurred in self-defense or was an act of felony," Hurst said.

The inquest, held when a cause of death is questionable or involves a law enforcement officer, is set for 9 a.m. Friday at the Common Pleas Courthouse.

Cape Girardeau County prosecutor Morley Swingle said he won't make a decision about filing criminal charges against if Johns, the man who told police he shot Griffith, until after the inquest.

"I want to wait and hear the testimony," Swingle said.

Regardless of the inquest outcome, Johns may also face weapons charges for bringing a loaded weapon into the bar.

The last coroner's inquest was held just over a year ago to investigate the death of Matthew S. March, who was killed Feb. 10, 2001, after shooting two Cape Girardeau police officers during a drug bust.

Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!

Friday's six-member coroner's jury is expected to hear testimony from witnesses and police officers as well as medical examiners and other experts.

Brought gun with him

In a probable-cause affidavit filed last week to obtain a search warrant, Cape Girardeau Lt. Mark Majoros detailed testimony by Johns, who told police he had a loaded .380-caliber Colt semiautomatic handgun with him Friday morning.

Johns, who said he doesn't normally carry a weapon, said he carried the gun Friday because Griffith had threatened to kill him.

He told police that as Griffith walked into the bar with the gun behind him he shouted "Get out of here" at Griffith.

Johns said when he pulled his gun, Griffith had already pulled his own weapon, a .22-caliber Ruger semiautomatic. He told police Griffith shouted "Shoot me" to Johns, who emptied his pistol. Johns said Griffith fired three shots at him.

Griffith's family questions that version of events.

Chuck Griffith said his father couldn't have been firing on Johns because Winford Griffith always shot with his gun in front of him, planting his feet. His father's bullet wounds were all from the side, he said.

Griffith's son-in-law, Rod Metzger, concurred, saying Griffith was a front-shooter.

Metzger and his wife, Debbie, live in the mobile home on a lot next to Griffith's. He said he and "Griff" spent a lot of time together and often went target shooting.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160

Story Tags
Advertisement

Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:

For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.

Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!