NewsJanuary 13, 2015
Two charged with murder in Sunday shooting in Sikeston; suspects still at large
SIKESTON, Mo. -- Police are looking for two men who have been charged with murder in connection with a homicide that occurred at 5:40 p.m. Sunday in Sikeston. The victim, Christopher Qurvon West, 31, of Sikeston was still in his vehicle, which was facing north in the middle of North Main Street, near College Street, when he was shot once in the head and died immediately, according to Capt. James McMillen of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...
Standard Democrat
SIKESTON, Mo. -- Police are looking for two men who have been charged with murder in connection with a homicide that occurred at 5:40 p.m. Sunday in Sikeston.
The victim, Christopher Qurvon West, 31, of Sikeston was still in his vehicle, which was facing north in the middle of North Main Street, near College Street, when he was shot once in the head and died immediately, according to Capt. James McMillen of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.
On Monday, Scott County prosecutors charged William Henry Applewhite III, 27, and Gailon Lamarous Applewhite, 29, both of Sikeston, with murder and armed criminal action in connection with the case.
Sikeston police are looking for the men, who are considered armed and dangerous, McMillen reported in a news release Monday.
The Major Case Squad was activated, and officers closed the road to traffic for about three hours during their investigation Sunday evening.
"Witnesses said the suspect vehicle pulled in front of the victim's vehicle as it was traveling north on US 61," McMillen wrote in the news release. "The suspect(s) shot at the man while stopped in front of him."
During the investigation, police learned West had a physical altercation with Gailon Applewhite about 3 p.m. Sunday at Westside Liquor, 889 W. Malone Ave. in Sikeston, that stemmed from an ongoing feud between the two men, the release stated.
Less than three hours later, West was killed.
A witness to the shooting identified the Applewhites as two of the three people in the vehicle from which the shots came, the release stated.
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The suspects reportedly fled west on College Street after the attack.
Bond was set at $250,000 cash only for Gailon Applewhite and $150,000 cash only for William Henry Applewhite III.
Both suspects have had previous run-ins with the law.
In 2006, William Applewhite pleaded guilty to making a false report, distribution of a controlled substance near a school and receiving stolen property. He initially received five years' probation for the drug distribution charge, but his probation was revoked in September 2006, and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Gailon Applewhite has a long history of offenses dating to 2004, when he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and received a one-year suspended sentence.
His prior offenses also include three instances of possession of a controlled substance; damage to jail property; and two instances of resisting arrest. His most recent offense was in February 2012, when he was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance.
Anyone with information leading to the arrest of the suspects is eligible for a cash reward.
Anyone with information about the suspects' whereabouts is asked to call 573-471-4711 or the CrimeStoppers hotline at 573-471-1500.
Callers do not have to give their names.
Reporter Emily Priddy contributed some information to this story.
smaue@semissourian.com
388-3644
Pertinent address:
North Main Street and College Street, Sikeston, Mo.
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