Poplar Bluff man in ICU after Thursday shooting

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An apparent dispute over what authorities describe as a "common girlfriend" put one Poplar Bluff man in an intensive care unit and another on the run.

Jerome Webb, 35, of the 200 block of East Midland Street underwent surgery overnight at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center to "repair the damage from the gunshot wounds, and he is in the ICU at this time," Poplar Bluff Deputy Chief Jeff Rolland said Friday morning.

"One of the rounds lacerated an artery in his heart," while the other damaged a lung, said Rolland, who described the wounds as life threatening. "Thanks to the skill of the medical staff at our hospital, they saved his life."

Webb's alleged attacker, Jermaine Young, 32, of Wappapello, Mo., was charged Friday morning in Butler County with felony first-degree assault, felony armed criminal action and felony unlawful possession of a firearm in that he is a felon.

After considering the probable cause affidavit and complaint filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth issued a warrant for Young's arrest and set his bond at $100,000 cash-only.

The charges against Young stem from officers being dispatched to a residence in the 2100 block of Wood Street at about 10 p.m. Thursday in reference to a person being shot, Rolland said.

Upon their arrival, Rolland said, officers contacted the reporting party, Samantha Handley, who "directed their attention to Jerome Webb; (he) was suffering from two gunshot wounds to the upper chest."

It appears the wounds were caused by a small-caliber handgun, Rolland said.

The ensuing investigation revealed the identity of the suspect, Rolland said.

"It appears the shooting was a result of a disagreement over a common girlfriend between the two," Rolland said. The woman, he said, is the current girlfriend of the alleged suspect and Webb's ex-girlfriend.

Based on the evidence at the scene, Rolland said, officers believe the shooting happened on the threshold of the Wood Street residence.

"The shooter arrived first, looking for the victim, and waited for the victim to return to the residence," Rolland said.

After allegedly shooting Webb twice as he entered the residence, the suspect then "immediately fled the scene," Rolland said.

Officers "aggressively searching for (Young) to bring him to justice," Chief Danny Whiteley said Friday morning.

Young, who is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 230 pounds, was last seen in a white 2001 Ford Mustang, bearing Missouri tag MG8-S9G.