Sikeston man charged in shooting death

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man was in Scott County Jail Wednesday on a $250,000 bond following a shooting death outside a bar there Tuesday evening.

Lee R. King II, 33, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Drew Juden, Sikeston Department of Public Safety director, said Wednesday police responded to a 911 call about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday that a man had been shot outside Cronie's Sports Bar & Grill.

When police arrived they found Richard Sterling, 37, of Morehouse, Mo., lying on the ground just east of Cronie's, Juden said. "At least three shots had been fired," Juden said. "We don't know how many of those shots met their target."

Attempts to revive Sterling at the scene were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead by Scott County Coroner Scott Amick.

The case is still being investigated by the Southeast Missouri Major Case Squad, Juden said. Police found a 12-gauge pump shotgun in King's vehicle, but Juden said that weapon has not yet been determined to be the murder weapon.

Juden said the two men had an ongoing feud that police believe was over a woman. He added that King was not in Cronie's with Sterling before the incident.

Following the incident, police began searching for King, Juden said. King reportedly learned of the search and turned himself into DPS less than two hours later.

The South Scott Ambulance Service and Air Evac Life Flight responded to the scene.

carel@semissourian.com

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