Region/state briefs 07/08/03

One of three Cape robbery defendants sentenced

Two Cape Girardeau men, Quintayus D. Moore and Alex T. Bowen, appeared in front of Presiding Circuit Court Judge William Syler Monday for sentencing in connection with their guilty pleas to first-degree burglary and second-degree robbery.

Moore, 26, received a 15-year prison sentence, but Bowen, 27, was ordered to undergo a pre-sentence investigation, including a psychological evaluation, and is to return to court Sept. 15. A third charge of armed criminal action was dismissed as part of their plea agreement.

Investigators say the men robbed a St. Louis man at the Sands Motel at 1448 N. Kingshighway with the help of a third accomplice, Rosie L. Jackson, 24, of Cape Girardeau, who initially went to the motel room with the man.

Shortly after she left, Moore and Bowen bolted throught the door, brandishing a semiautomatic handgun and took cash and other property belonging to the victim, investigators said. Jackson is charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. She awaits a case review on July 14.

Suspect arrested in Kansas City shooting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A 15-year-old boy suspected of shooting a toddler and teenager during a daytime gunfight has turned himself in to police, his attorney said.

Defense attorney John P. O'Connor, who is representing the 15-year-old, said he drove his client to the police department's juvenile section on Monday. No charges have been filed, and O'Connor said the boy told him he was not the shooter.

Police have said they think the boy fired an assault rifle on June 30 at a busy intersection in an area near a high school, gas station and fire station.

Police said a dispute between occupants of two cars sparked the shooting. Witnesses told police a passenger in a dark-colored car stepped out with an assault rifle and fired at a red car. The occupants of the red car fired back.

A round penetrated the trunk of the red car and hit 2-year-old Tracee Partee in the head. She remains in critical condition.

The other victim, 15-year-old Cierra Williams, was treated at a hospital after she was shot in the leg.

Officials considering review of gun trades

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state is likely to review its policy of trading in its used guns for resale after Gov. Bob Holden raised concerns about the practice following a deadly shooting at a factory, an agency director said Monday.

"I think we'll review it and take a look at it and talk about whether there is something we might want to do differently," said Charles Jackson, the director of the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the patrol.

Holden said last week that he was concerned about the policy after last Tuesday's shooting at Modine Manufacturing Co., where Jonathon Russell killed three co-workers and injured five others before killing himself.

"The governor said that needs to be looked at and it will be looked at," Mary Still, Holden's spokeswoman, said Monday.

Starting last November, the patrol traded about 1,400 of its Glock .40-caliber semiautomatic pistols through a suburban Kansas City wholesaler for about the same number of Glocks, upgraded with attachable flashlights.

One of those used pistols -- stamped with the patrol's distinctive emblem and the agency initials "MSHP" -- was re-sold by the wholesale police supplier to Bob's Guns & Knives in Jefferson City. Bob's Guns sold it last month to Russell.

Third suspect sentenced in drug-related killing

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- A third suspect was sentenced Monday for his role in the 2001 drug-related strangulation of a disabled St. Charles County woman.

Deon Blackmon, 27, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder and robbery in the death of Carolyn Sue Reid, 40, of O'Fallon, Mo.

The two other suspects have already been sentenced.

-- From staff, wire reports