Victim in fatal shooting identified; person of interest sought

Editor's note: Portions of this story about the possibility of Combs being involved in illegal activity have been removed. A source, Cobret Joe, a neighbor, said he did not intend for his statements to be reported specifically about Combs; rather he said he was speaking in general terms.

Quinton David Combs, 24, of Cape Girardeau was identified as the victim a fatal shooting at 2 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of South Frederick Street, Cape Girardeau police announced Monday.

Cape Girardeau Police also have identified a person of interest, Darion Treyshaun Harris, 19, of Cape Girardeau, who they believe has information about Combs' death. Police are asking for information on Harris' whereabouts because attempts to find him through his friends and family have been unsuccessful.

Darion Treyshaun Harris

Meanwhile, neighbors talked about the death of a man commonly known as "Longway."

Neighbor Charles Stokes said he heard as many as 11 or 12 shots that night from a weapon he thought was an automatic pistol. Other neighbors, who did not give their names, said the number of shots was six or seven.

According Stokes and other neighbors, Combs was shot in front of 521 S. Frederick St. -- bullet holes remained visible in the home's front door -- and was left in the street until emergency services arrived.

One rumor Stokes heard was Combs was shot in the back of the head; another was he was shot in the face.

"Girl was out here screaming, 'Somebody got killed,'" Stokes said. "This kind of crap is right here at my door. They need to clamp down."

Stokes, neighbor Ramon Mitchell and neighbor Valerie Vermillion, who lives on Middle Street, said the neighborhood has gotten worse over the past year. Stokes and Mitchell said older men will gather daily at a vacant lot in the block where the killing occurred to gamble and drink.

Lately, younger men have shown up in the neighborhood, leading to more violence, Stokes said.

"I used to see fights every day," Joe said of the violence escalation. He said more people were turning to guns. "It's sensitive people who run straight to guns. Put them guns down," he said.

Stokes and Vermillion are asking for more police in the neighborhood to act as a deterrent.

"It's a good neighborhood. The people who actually live here are good," Vermillion said. "If the cops would drive through more often, it would help. They can park in my driveway."

Combs was a former resident of Paris, Tennessee, according to the Paris Post-Intelligencer newspaper.

So far, the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad -- which includes representatives from the Cape Girardeau Police Department, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Office, Jackson Police Department, Bollinger County Sheriff's Department, Southeast Missouri State Department of Public Safety and Missouri State Highway Patrol -- is investigating.

The case squad has declined to give out more information about the case, including where Combs was shot, the weapon used and whether there are any suspects.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 521 S. Frederick St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.