Man shot, killed near Patterson

PATTERSON, Mo. -- Wayne County authorities are expected to return today to a Patterson-area home as they continue to investigate the shooting death of the home's occupant.

"We did have a homicide in the Lake Creek community of Patterson," southeast of Patterson off County Road 371, according to Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch.

Authorities, he said, learned of the shooting at 6:20 p.m. Monday when the victim called the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.

Emergency medical services personnel and law enforcement were dispatched to the mobile home, with the first officer arriving 13 minutes later, followed by emergency medical personnel two minutes later.

The victim, whose name is being withheld at this time, but is described as a 41-year-old man, was found in his mobile home and pronounced dead at the scene by Wayne County Coroner Gary Umfleet, Finch said.

Finch said the victim had been shot in the head.

An autopsy was to be performed Tuesday at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, Mo., by Dr. Russell Deidiker.

The suspect, whose name is being withheld until charges are filed, was found "in the driveway of the home" when officers arrived, said Finch, who added the victim and suspect, a 44-year-old man, knew each other and were "stepfamily."

Finch said the suspect, who was taken into custody and interviewed, is in the Wayne County Jail on a 24-hour investigative hold.

Deputies, as well as investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control, are investigating and partially processed the scene Monday night, Finch said.

"The steps taking place today, the outside of the residence and the residence are going to be re-searched," Finch said. "We're following up on leads and trying to put it all together, the events that occurred."

Finch said the firearm has not yet been recovered.

He said officers aren't "100 percent sure" who was at the home when the shooting occurred.

Further details will not be released until after charges are filed, Finch said.