18-year-old shot in back; DPS looking for shooter

Officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety look over the scene of a shooting Thursday afternoon at the corner of Ruth and Delmar. One subject was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. (David Jenkins photo)

SIKESTON -- An 18-year-old was shot on Thursday afternoon and police are searching for the shooters.

According to a release from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, officers received a call of shots fired at approximately 2 p.m. Thursday in the 500 block of Ruth Street. Officers arrived within minutes and found an 18-year-old man with a single gunshot wound to his back. The victim was transported by ambulance to the Missouri Delta Medical Center.

The said he and another subject were riding their bikes when a subject in a vehicle leaned out of the window and fired four to five shots at the men. One of the men was stuck in the back and they both fled to a residence located at Delmar and Ruth.

A victim is loaded into an ambulance after a shooting took place at about 2 p.m Thursday afternoon at the corner of Ruth and Delmar. (David Jenkins photo)

Witnesses described the suspect vehicle to police and officers began searching for the vehicle. A short time later, officers located what they believe to be the vehicle in question hidden behind a residence in the 400 block of Lee Street. The vehicle was unoccupied and no one was home at the residence. Police are now attempting to identify the person(s) who were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.

The victim underwent surgery and is expected to recover. The motive behind the shooting is still not known and the investigation is ongoing with the help of the SEMO Major Case Squad.

Sikeston DPS is asking anyone with information regarding this shooting to contact Sikeston DPS. Tips can be called in to Sikeston DPS at the crime-stoppers hotline at (573) 471-1500. Anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the offender(s) can be eligible for a cash reward.