One charged in shooting death of Vanduser man

SIKESTON -- A Vanduser man has been charged in the Thursday shooting death of another man in Scott County.

Sean Leroy Thomas, 18, is charged with felony first degree involuntary manslaughter and felony armed criminal action, according to online court records.

According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, the sheriff's department received a call about 5 p.m. Thursday of a shooting in Vanduser. Upon their arrival, officers and emergency personnel found 19-year-old Cole Kirkpatrick, a senior at Scott Central High School, with a gunshot wound to the head.

Within the hour the major case squad was activated, Walter said. The major case squad includes Scott County and New Madrid County sheriff's departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

"Both subjects lived in Vanduser. They were friends. ... It's tragic for both families," Walter said.

Further information was unavailable.

"Right now, that's what we have, and we're still investigating the incident," Walter said Friday afternoon.

Bond for Thomas was set at $5,000 cash or surety. As of Friday afternoon, Thomas had posted bond.