Police arrest Cape man after shooting that injured 8-year-old

MALDEN, Mo. — Police have arrested a Cape Girardeau man in connection with a March 25 shooting that left an 8-year-old Malden girl with cuts to her eye and neck.

Jarvis Wofford, 23, faces charges of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.

About 5:44 p.m. March 25, officers responding to a report of multiple shots fired arrived at the intersection of North Kimball and East Francis streets in Malden to find an 8-year-old girl who had been struck by glass from a rear window of an SUV that had been hit by multiple bullets, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Malden police.

The SUV had holes in the passenger-side quarter panel and rear door, the affidavit stated.

The girl was airlifted to Memphis, Tennessee, where she was treated for injuries to her eyes and face and a puncture wound to her neck, just inches from her artery. She had a piece of glass lodged in her eye but is expected to make a full recovery.

Officers from the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Department arrested Wofford about midnight Tuesday, authorities reported.

Wofford’s bond is set at $175,000 cash. He is scheduled for arraignment at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Officers found 22 spent .22-caliber shell casings scattered in the roadway on North Kimball Street just north of East Francis Street, according to the probable-cause affidavit.

Officers determined one shooter fired southeast toward the residence in the 400 block of North Kimball Street where the vehicle was parked.

A witness saw Wofford and Cassius Benford, 18, of Malden shooting at one another, Wofford from behind the tree and Benford in the intersection, the affidavit stated.

A second witness said a bullet went through the rear windshield of another vehicle and nearly missed two occupants inside.

Online court records show Benford is charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. He was still at large Thursday.

Pertinent address:

Malden, Mo.