Person of interest in custody with Cape homicide

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Cape Girardeau Police have a person in custody whom they believe may be linked to the shooting death of a man in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday.

In a news release issued Saturday, Cape Girardeau Police Sgt. Adam Glueck said a person of interest has been detained on unrelated charges.

Police are continuing to conduct an investigation into the shooting death of Howard Harris Smith Jr., 42, of Cape Girardeau.

As per standard protocol, the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad disbanded after 72 hours of working the case.

Police responded to a report of a shooting just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, finding Smith dead in a yard in the 900 block of Ranney Avenue.

The Cape Girardeau County coroner later confirmed Smith died as the result of a gunshot.

Police were not immediately available Saturday to comment further about the identity of the person in custody or his or her possible involvement in the incident.

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in connection with the killing.