Man shot; assailants remain at large

A Cape Girardeau County man was undergoing surgery late Thursday night after two unidentified suspects fired gunshots into his home in the 1300 block of Village Lane, Sheriff John Jordan said.

"[It] looks to be like some type of home invasion," Jordan said at the scene.

The suspects went around behind the residence and fired "what appeared to be some kind of rifle" into the home, striking the victim, Jordan said.

Shortly after 11 p.m., Jordan said the victim was in surgery and was expected to survive.

A dark sport utility vehicle and a light-colored Ford Explorer left the scene and were seen traveling on Sprigg Street, Jordan said.

"We're working on getting search warrants. ... As soon as we get those, we'll process the crime scene," he said.

Jordan said officers did not know the motive in the shooting.

About 10:45 p.m., police scanner traffic indicated the occupants of three vehicles -- including a white Ford Explorer -- fired more than 20 shots at each other in the 1300 block of North Spanish Street.

Police suspected the SUV might have been involved in the earlier shooting, scanner traffic indicated.

Jordan confirmed Cape Girardeau police, state troopers and sheriff's deputies were investigating a shooting involving a white Ford Explorer about that time in Cape Girardeau.

On Village Lane, several neighbors milled around the area as police worked.

"There's gun shooting everywhere around here," said Earl Richardson, a neighbor who lives around the corner. "... I moved out here to get away from all the problems. It's something else out here."

Richardson said he heard about five gunshots but did not know who the victim or suspects were.

A witness, who declined to be identified because the suspects were still at large, reported hearing six or seven shots shortly after 9 p.m.

Two men ran from the scene, their shirts pulled up to conceal their faces, got into a parked vehicle about 15 feet from the front door and fled, the witness said.

Neighbors heard someone in the house yelling for help, kicked in the front door and found a man inside, naked, with two gunshot wounds to his back and one to the back of his head, the witness said.

Southeast Missourian reporter Samantha Kluesner contributed to this story.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

1300 block of Village Lane, Cape Girardeau, MO