Kennett shooting death remains under investigation

KENNETT -- Candles were burning Monday morning at an impromptu memorial put together by family and friends at the sight where William Thomas Jr. was shot to death.

The shooting that killed Thomas and wounded Taneka Parker occurred early Saturday in Kennett near Mason's Cafe at Commercial and North Baldwin streets.

The incident is under investigation by the Kennett Police Department and the Dunklin County Major Case Squad.

About 1 a.m. Saturday, police received a call of shots fired near the cafe. On arriving, officers discovered that two people had been shot multiple times. One had fled to a nearby home, and the other had been transported to Twin Rivers Regional Hospital in Kennett.

The ambulance service was dispatched to an address on North Baldwin to transport the second victim, then identified as Taneka Parker of Kennett, while officers went to Twin Rivers.

Officers learned that the first victim, identified as William Thomas Jr., had died as the result of several gun shot wounds.

Investigators are asking all witnesses to contact the Kennett Police Department at 573-888-4622.