Suspect sought in Illinois shooting

MCCLURE, Ill. -- The Illinois State Police continued to hunt for the suspect in a deadly armed robbery and shooting that occurred at Brown Bag Video in McClure early Tuesday.

Around 1:30 a.m., police received a 911 call alerting them someone had been shot. They responded to the call to find Charles A. Caldwell, 30, of Cairo, Ill., had been shot twice with what police say was a long-barreled handgun.

Caldwell was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room. Emergency personnel believe he was dead on arrival, according to Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton.

Caldwell worked at McGinnis Flower Shop and ran for a position on Cairo City Council in February.

Clifton's office scheduled the autopsy for 3 p.m. Tuesday in Farmington, Mo.

The store clerk who was on duty was shot in the arm and taken to the same hospital for treatment.

The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction in an unknown vehicle. Brown Bag Video was closed Tuesday as police commenced a search for the suspect.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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