Suspects sought for firing shots at busy Poplar Bluff park

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff authorities are investigating a report of shots being fired Wednesday evening at Bacon Park as young athletes were on the park's practice fields.

No injuries were reported, and several suspects reportedly are being sought.

"It happened so quick; really no one knew what happened," said deputy chief Jeff Rolland. " *... When officers got there, people were still practicing softball."

Rolland said many visitors heard something, but didn't immediately relate the noises with gunshots.

The ball field, Rolland said, is "quite a distance from the cul-de-sac *... 50 to 60 yards" from where the shots were fired.

Chief Danny Whiteley said officers were able to determine three vehicles, described as a black Chevrolet pickup, a brown or gold passenger car and an SUV, had been stationary in park's the cul-de-sac before the shooting.

"As the shots rang out, [the vehicles] fled the area as if, from our understanding, they were participants in the shooting activity," Rolland said.

The Chevrolet pickup was shot in its radiator and overheated, and its driver pulled it to the side of the road a few blocks from the park, said Lt. J.R. Kiersey.

"Officers concluded it was a vehicle involved in Bacon Park, as it matched the description of the vehicle that fled" the park, Kiersey said.

The truck was taken to the police department's garage to be processed.

Kiersey said the truck's driver and its passenger were interviewed by officers.

"I know we recovered between six and eight shell casings" from the scene, Whiteley said.

Based on information gleaned at the scene, Whiteley said, officers believe two different people with handguns were involved in the shooting.

"The officers spoke with a number of subjects who were in the area at the time of the shooting, and as happens numerous times in these kinds of activities, they know who the shooters and perpetrators are, but are unwilling to do the right thing and cooperate with us to identify the suspects or participants," Whiteley said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 573-785-5776.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.