Woman accused of setting up robbery turns self in; other suspects at large

A woman accused of helping set up attempts to rob a Cape Girardeau marijuana dealer turned herself in Thursday to the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department.

Ellen Rose Wilfong, 20, of Farmington, Missouri, called the dealer to set up transactions at 1:30 a.m. Nov. 13 and 10:30 p.m. Nov. 13, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case by Cape Girardeau police detective Jeff Bonham.

Both incidents, at 1606 Independence St. and 2109 William St. respectively, erupted in gunfire, according to the statement.

Jermonte M. Lawrence, 20, of Cape Girardeau was shot in the upper right leg and Leslie Williams was shot in the left pinkie finger during a shootout in the parking lot of Rhodes 101 convenience store on William Street, Bonham wrote. Police collected 22 shell casings from the Rhodes 101 parking lot, according to the statement.

The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Wilfong, Lawrence, Madison Hunt, 18, of Oak Ridge and Lorenzo Malike Flagg, 17, of Jackson with conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree attempted robbery and armed criminal action.

Wilfong and Hunt’s bonds were set at $25,000, cash or surety, while Lawrence and Flagg’s bonds were set at $100,000, cash or surety.

Wilfong, Hunt and Lawrence all were interviewed by police, Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Adam Glueck said.

Christopher Don’ta Hawkins, 18, of Cape Girardeau was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. Hawkins bond was set at $100,000, cash or surety.

According to evidence and interviews collected by Cape Girardeau police, Hawkins instigated the shooting at the 1606 Independence St. robbery attempt and responded after Williams fired shots at the Rhodes 101 attempted-robbery shooting, according to the statement.

Hunt, Flagg and Hawkins still were at large Friday, according to a police news release.

Anyone with information on a suspect is encouraged to contact Cape Girardeau police at (573) 335-6621, (573) 339-6613 for the anonymous tip line or text CAPEPD at 847411.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

1606 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2109 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.