Prior offender charged in Cape shooting case

Prosecutors in Cape Girardeau County on Thursday charged a man with shooting his daughter's boyfriend and asked for stiffer punishments because the man is a prior offender.

Samuel J. Ward, 42, of 1918 College St., was arrested Thursday after police were called Wednesday to a shooting at his home. The victim, Corey Shannon, was wounded in both the left and right buttocks, according to a sworn statement from patrolman R.W. Rahn Jr. that was filed with the charges.

Ward admitted shooting Shannon, who he told police was assaulting his daughter at the time of the shooting. Ward directed police to where the gun, a .38-caliber revolver, was hidden, as well as to where the shell casings could be found and the location of a second handgun, Rahn wrote in the statement.

Prosecutors charged Ward with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, all felonies. He was also charged with possession of a defaced firearm, a misdemeanor.

According to the arrest warrant issued for Ward, he was convicted of second-degree assault April 21, 1986, and again Feb. 6, 1990.