Two men accused of exchanging gunfire at local gas station

Two Illinois men face felony gun charges after they admitted to shooting at assailants at an area gas station, Cape Girardeau police say.

The shooting occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday at the Rhodes 101 convenience store at 1126 N. Sprigg St. At least four shots were fired, and several vehicles were struck by bullets. The two suspects’ vehicle, a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, was struck in the passenger-side door and in the passenger-side front fender.

Police pulled over Darian Jamaar Engram, 23, and Keshawn Maurice Childress, 27, both of Mound City, Illinois, in the Tahoe about 2:20 p.m. Saturday. Police found a .40-caliber shell casing lodged between the windshield and hood of the vehicle, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case.

Engram and Childress told police they shot their guns in self-defense and had no idea who was shooting at them, according to the statement.

At one point during the shooting, Childress left the vehicle and ran toward the rear of the station to try to see who was shooting at them, according to the statement.

He told police he remembered seeing a light blue or gray car driving at them and at least one occupant of that vehicle shooting at them, according to the statement.

Engram and Childress have been charged with the class B felony of unlawful use of a weapon. A class B felony carries a minimum prison term of five years.

Their bond was set at $75,000 cash each or surety.

Police collected into evidence two .40-caliber pistols, one owned by Engram and one by Childress, and a box of ammo containing 45 bullets.

Engram’s gun was loaded, with a round in the chamber, according to the statement.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 1126 N. Sprigg Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.