Sikeston shooting injures two

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Less than 48 hours after a shooting in Sikeston left one man badly injured, a second round of shots in the same block sent two victims to the hospital.

Sikeston police have not received any information or unearthed any evidence leading them to believe the incidents were related, said Sikeston Department of Public Safety captain Dan Armor.

A suspect is in custody related to the second shooting pending formal charges.

None of the three victims identified their assailant.

The shots in both incidents were fired about the same time: early in the morning.

Around 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, police received a report of gunshots fired in the 800 block of Ruth Street.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that the two victims, an 18-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, had already been taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center with gunshot wounds.

Both were treated for minor injuries and released.

"The motivation behind this shooting is not clear at this time," said Sikeston Department of Public Safety spokesman Jim McMillen in a prepared statement.

The previous shooting occurred around 3:40 a.m. Sunday, when police received a call from a 42-year-old man who said he'd been shot.

He suffered a gunshot wound to the buttocks, and the bullet exited through the pelvic area.

Emergency personnel responded immediately and transported him to the hospital, where his condition was listed as stable but serious, McMillen said.

The victim in that incident provided a vague description of the shooter. Armor declined to comment on whether the man and woman injured Tuesday morning described their assailant.

The Sikeston Criminal Investigation Unit processed both crime scenes for evidence and conducted interviews

As the investigation continues, several people of interest are being considered, though no arrests had been made as of Tuesday.

"There are people we're looking at very strongly," Armor said.

Anyone with information regarding either incident should contact CrimeStoppers at (573) 471-1500 or the Sikeston Department of Public Safety at (573) 741-1500.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245