Updated: South Hanover Street shooting victim dies

A 31-year-old Cape Girardeau man who was shot last night in the 300 block of South Hanover Street died of his injuries after he was transported to a local hospital, police said.

The Bollinger/ Cape Girardeau County Major Case Squad has been activated to investigate the homicide.

Multiple witnesses said the man was shot multiple times in the torso.

The victim, who has not been identified by police, was conscious when he was loaded in a Cape Girardeau County private ambulance Wednesday night. He was shot about 9:20 p.m.

One neighbor said they saw the man after he was shot and thought he had been struck three or four times by bullets in the torso.

Cape Girardeau police work the scene of a shooting Wednesday night in the 300 block of South Hanover Street near Bloomfield Street in Cape Girardeau.Fred Lynch

A man who declined to give his name who said he was a friend of the victim said he was with the victim before the shooting at his house about a block north of 319 S. Hanover St., where Cape Girardeau police officers concentrated their investigation of the shooting.

He said the victim began walking south on South Hanover Street when shots were fired.

When the man caught up to the scene, he saw his friend lying in the street.

He said he thought his friend was hit by several bullets in his stomach area and upper legs.

“He was the last person I ever expected to be laying there,” the man said. “It was kind of too much blood for me.”

People who said they live near the shooting scene said they heard six shots but did not see anyone fleeing the scene.

Near the curb across from 319 S. Hanover St., police placed orange cones next to a pool that appeared to be blood, one black shoe and a light-blue shirt.

Police cordoned off the area around 319 S. Hanover St. north of Bloomfield Street.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 319 S. Hanover St., Cape Girardeau, MO