Sikeston police seek teen suspect in shooting

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Police were searching for a 16-year-old boy suspected of shooting another youth in Sikeston, Mo. A 15-year-old boy was shot in the left shoulder at 845 Ruth St. around 9:30 p.m. Friday, according to a news release from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. He was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center and stabilized before being transferred to Children's Hospital in St. Louis, where he was listed in "stable but guarded" condition, the release stated. The injury was not considered life-threatening. A motive for the shooting was unknown, and the weapon was not recovered. The circumstances surrounding the shooting were not released. The suspect had recently been released from the Division of Youth Services, according to the release. Police were also searching for witnesses to the shooting. Anyone with any information was encouraged to call the Sikeston Department of Public Safety at (573) 471-4711.

Sikeston man sentenced to life without parole

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A convicted killer in a 2003 Sikeston, Mo., shooting death was sentenced to life without parole. Randy McKeller, 25, of Sikeston, was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the May, 25, 2003, slaying of Trevor Neal, 19, according to a Sikeston Department of Public Safety news release. New Madrid County Judge Fred Copeland, who oversaw the jury trial in Mississippi County on a change of judge, handed down the sentence to McKeller on Friday. He received a 20-year sentence for armed criminal action that would run concurrently with the life sentence for murder, the release stated. Another defendant in the case, Justin Robinson, 24, was convicted by a jury last year of second-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to court records. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Lawsuit claims pharmacy employee diluted meds

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A pharmacy employee diluted a dying doctor's pain medications in order to feed his own habit, a lawsuit claims. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Jasper County Circuit Court, does not claim that the employee's alleged actions caused or hastened the death of Dr. Herbert Schmidt, but that receiving diluted painkillers caused Schmidt unneccessary pain and suffering. Schmidt died of bladder cancer on Aug. 23, 2004. His relatives are suing Ozark Compounding Pharmacy, owner Steven Charles and employee Brian Simpson. The lawsuit alleges product defect, fraud and professional malpractice. It seeks unspecified actual and punitive damages. "Defendant Simpson negligently diluted drugs intended for Dr. Schmidt and other patients," the petition read in part, "so that he could conceal that he was taking these drugs for his own personal use and abuse." When Schmidt received drugs from another pharmacy, the lawsuit alleges, he experienced much less pain.

-- From staff, wire reports