Man arrested in connection with Tuesday shooting in Cape Girardeau

An alleged accomplice in the Tuesday shooting of John Lee Tate was charged with tampering with evidence Friday.

Police continue to search for Brannon Mackins, 19, of Mounds, Ill., who police say was the shooter.

Alfonso Ellis, 23, of 2818 Independence St., was charged with one felony count of tampering with physical evidence for receiving the handgun Mackins allegedly used in the shooting.

Ellis was in the same vehicle as Mackins when officer David Templeton of the Cape Gir­ar­deau Police Department initiated a traffic stop, according to Templeton's sworn statement.

Mackins immediately exited the vehicle and fled on foot, while Ellis was detained, according to the statement.

Templeton found a silver revolver with a white grip laying in the passenger floorboard, the report said.

Two unfired .38-caliber bullets and three spent casings were found on Ellis' person, according to the statement.