Sikeston murder suspects arrested after standoff

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A three-hour standoff ended late Friday with the arrest of two men wanted in a Jan. 11 fatal shooting.

Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden reported about midnight Friday the arrest of William Henry Applewhite III, 27, and Gailon Lamarous Applewhite, 29, on Davis Street in Sikeston. The brothers were taken to the Sikeston Jail.

The suspects were surrounded in an apartment building at 911 Davis Blvd. in Sikeston, according to Sikeston police Capt. James McMillen. William Applewhite surrendered to SWAT officers 45 minutes after the building was surrounded. Gailon Applewhite allegedly refused to come out, despite pepper spray being shot into the residence. Several SWAT officers forced their way into the apartment and detained him, McMillen said.

William Applewhite

Juden credited tips from concerned residents that led to the suspects' arrest.

The Applewhites are charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of Christopher Qurvon West. West, 31, was found shot to death in his car on North Main near College Street in Sikeston on Jan. 11. He was shot in the head.

Information from police linked the shooting to a nearly two-month feud between the Applewhites and West after an assault of West's girlfriend during a November home invasion. On Jan. 11, according to police, West and Gailon Applewhite were involved in an altercation at a business on West Malone Avenue. According to a probable-cause statement, on West was driving east on Smith Street when he saw Gailon L. Applewhite driving a vehicle with William Henry Applewhite as the

passenger in the front seat and a third person in the back seat. Believing they would follow him to his residence, West tried to get away by turning into the Food Giant parking lot, then heading north on Main Street. The

car driven by Applewhite followed and got in front of West's vehicle in the left-turn lane. According to a witness, as Applewhite's vehicle became perpendicular to West's vehicle, the driver's side front and back windows were down and several gunshots were heard coming from the vehicle.

According to Detective Flint Dees of Sikeston police, one gunshot struck West in the head.

"At the crime scene spent shell casings from .40 caliber and 9 mm weapons were recovered, indicating two guns were used by the suspects," Dees wrote in the probable-cause statement. A search of the suspect's vehicle found another spent shell casing inside.

A third man, Jonathan Wright, is still being sought for his role in an earlier assault.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts that leads to his arrest is eligible for a cash reward. Tips can remain anonymous and be sent to 573-471-4711 or the crimestoppers hotline at 573-471-1500.