Person of interest in custody over recent fatal shooting

The Cape Girardeau County/Bollinger County Major Case Squad identified a person of interest in the Brent Shonta Johnson homicide investigation, according to a news release.

The identified person of interest was in custody Friday on unrelated charges outside of Cape Girardeau, according to a news release.

Police declined to release any information about the person, including where he or she is being held.

The Major Case Squad also announced it was disbanding after 72 hours, the standard investigative time frame, according to the release. Cape Girardeau police will continue the investigation.

Johnson, 30, of Cape Girardeau was shot once in the chest while trying to break up a fight between two other men about 2 a.m. Wednesday in front of 1211 S. Ellis St., said his sister, Chelsea Johnson.

The Major Case Squad reported Johnson was dead when they arrived at the scene, according to another news release.

Johnson was the fifth person shot and killed in Cape Girardeau in 2016:

• Airious Darling, 28, of Cape Girardeau was shot in the head March 31 on the front porch of 612 Locust St. while he was dropping off the 1-year-old daughter of his girlfriend’s brother, according to the testimony of Shaniquia Gilbert. The Major Case Squad arrested Tavious Tipler, 18, of Cape Girardeau on April 2. Deven Harris testified at the hearing Tipler told him the wrong guy “got shot.”
• Domorlo McCaster, 28, of Cape Girardeau was found dead by police about 4 p.m. May 19 in a wooded area near Ranney Park. Terrell Hunt testified he was in a gold GMC Envoy with McCaster when Malcolm Harris, 24, of Cape Girardeau shot McCaster in the back of the head at close range about 5 a.m. May 14. Rodney Smith testified he dumped McCaster’s body in the wooded area after the shooting. The Major Case Squad arrested Harris on May 27.
• Andrel Dolpin Jr., 17, of Cape Girardeau was shot once in the back about 9:30 p.m. May 19 near the Lorimont House Apartments at 235 Lorimier St. He later died at Saint Francis Medical Center. Jonas Phillips, 27, of Charleston, Missouri, was arrested May 21. Phillips, Daniel Venable and Lizzy Culbertson were at Dolpin’s apartment, trying to buy drugs from Dolpin’s mother, Bernadette Mansfield, according to a probable-cause statement filed by Cape Girardeau Police Sgt. Jeff Bonham. Venable fought with Dolpin and other people in the house, according to the statement. Phillips fired shots as they left the scene, Bonham wrote.
• Willie Brown Jr., 31, of Cape Girardeau was shot six times about 9 p.m. Sept. 7 in the 300 block of Hanover Street, according to a probable-cause statement by Bonham. Brown died later from his injuries. A 16-year-old was taken into custody and was identified as the shooter by Tyyeema Cleaves, Bonham wrote. Cleaves, 23, of Cape Girardeau set up a deal with Brown to buy Xanax, then have the 16-year-old rob Brown to retrieve the money, Bonham wrote. The 16-year-old has not been certified as an adult, and officials have declined to release his name until that process is completed. Cleaves was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 1211 S. Ellis St., Cape Girardeau, MO