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Sikeston DPS provides details on capture of murder suspects
SIKESTON - Hours of investigation led Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers late Friday to the apartment where two murder suspects were hiding.
According to Capt. Jim McMillen, DPS public information officer, at 3 p.m. Thursday, officers obtained information that William Henry Applewhite and Gailon Appelwhite, who were wanted for the Jan. 11 murder of Christopher West, were hiding in Sikeston.
"They had never left this area as we first believed they had," McMillen said. However, "after 12 hours of follow-up investigation we were unable to get an exact location."
At approximately 7 p.m. Friday, officers directed their search to Apartment 3, 911 Davis Blvd. According to McMillen, the building was surrounded and neighboring apartments were cleared of any residents.
At that time, officers called on a loud speaker to the Applewhites to surrender. McMillen reported after about 45 minutes, William Henry Applewhite surrender to SWAT officers.
"Gailon Applewhite refused to come out and OC spray was shot into the residence," McMillen said in a news release. "He still refused to come out so several SWAT officers armed with a search warrant and arrest warrants forced entry into the apartment."
Gailon Applewhite was then arrested on the warrant charging him with first degree murder.
While processing the apartment, McMillen reported officers located some evidence.
Warrants are pending on those who assisted the Applewhites from being arrested following the Jan. 11 shooting, authorities said.