Man shot in the abdomen on Bloomfield Street

A young man sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen Tuesday afternoon at an unoccupied house in the 900 block of Bloomfield Street -- the second time shots were fired in the area in as many days.

Details were sketchy Tuesday evening, but the victim was conscious and responsive, said Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Officers did not yet know whether the victim's injuries were life-threatening, Hickey said.

First responders assist a shooting victim Tuesday on the front porch of a house at 921 Bloomfield St. in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where Lt. Barry Hovis of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said officers hoped to interview him later.

Police did not have a motive or any suspects in the shooting, but Sgt. Jason Selzer of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said officers believe the victim knew his attacker.

"We believe at least two people entered the house, and then whatever happened -- happened, and he was shot in the stomach," Selzer said.

Ron Ervin, who lives across the street from the house where the shooting occurred Tuesday, said he heard the gunshot.

"There's shootings here constantly," Ervin said.

Someone shot through the window of a passing car Monday in the 1000 block of Bloomfield Street, just a block from the site of the shooting Tuesday, Hickey said.

Ervin said that vehicle belonged to a man who had just driven him home after a church service.

"The guy that dropped me off, he's 70 years old," Ervin said. "They shot up his car."

Ervin said gunshots are common in the area.

"They stand out in the street and just rap them off like they're in a movie," he said.

Ervin said he was worried stray bullets might hurt or kill a bystander.

"I'm afraid about the kids around here, because they never hit each other. ... Them bullets got to go somewhere," he said.

Hovis said it was too early to tell whether the shooting Tuesday was connected to any other recent crimes.

A man suffered a gunshot wound to the calf during a robbery attempt Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Bloomfield Street and Hanover Street, less than two blocks west of the shooting Tuesday.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

900 block of Bloomfield Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.