Three Sikeston men charged with first-degree murder

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Three Sikeston men were charged and are being held without bond for the shooting death of Larrell C. Taylor.

Kena D. Hatcher, 20, Johnnie N. Phiffer, 18, and Thomas M. Elery, 18, were each charged with first-degree murder, assault, and two counts of armed criminal action, according to a news release from Sikeston police.

All three were denied bond pending a hearing Tuesday in Scott County.

Police believe that Taylor, 25, of Sikeston, was walking with his brother down the 400 block of Dorothy Street around 7 p.m. Thursday when the defendants emerged from behind a Dumpster and fired a single shot, the release stated.

Taylor died from a gunshot wound to the left side of his neck. He was pronounced dead at 8:56 p.m., according to the release.

Phiffer was arrested 10 to 15 minutes after the shooting in a vehicle that had been described by witnesses from the scene. Hatcher turned himself in to authorities around 7:30 a.m. Friday, and Elery was arrested at 10 a.m. in the 300 block of Luther Street, the release stated.

A weapon was not recovered, and a motive for the shooting was not known, police said.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

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