Man sought for shooting at Poplar Bluff park

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A warrant was issued Friday for a Poplar Bluff man authorities believe was involved in last week's shooting at Kiwanis Bacon Park.

Latez Kellum, 24, of the 1100 block of Fairmont Street was charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon, felony armed criminal action and felony second-degree assault by Butler County assistant prosecuting attorney Ted Thompson.

The charges allege Kellum acted alone or knowingly in concert with another to commit the offenses.

After considering the complaint and probable-cause statement filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth issued a warrant for Kellum's arrest and set his bond at $500,000 cash.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Poplar Bluff Police Department into a report of shots fired at about 6:20 p.m. Oct. 21 at the basketball court in Bacon Park.

"While en route to the call, officers contacted the victim, Kyle Vaughn, who was standing next to his truck at Main and Gardner Street," detective Leigh Morgan said in her probable-cause statement.

While Vaughn was playing basketball, Morgan said, he reported seeing a black Saturn SUV come through the park, driven by a man named "Tez," later identified as Kellum.

Morgan said Vaughn reported seeing a woman in the front passenger seat and a man "with dreads" in the back passenger seat.

"The SUV left and returned five minutes later when [Vaughn] was leaving with his friend ... and [the friend's] 2-year-old son," Morgan said. "This time, he said, the driver and back-seat passenger had on hoods and something covering the lower portion of their faces.

"As they came around the circle, Kyle said, he saw the back passenger point a black handgun out the window and begin shooting at the basketball court."

At the time of the shooting, activities were going on the softball field, as well as on the north end of the park, where teams normally practice football.

A group of high school girls also reportedly was practicing at the park in preparation for Thursday's powder puff football game.

Pertinent address:

Bacon Park, Poplar Bluff, Mo.