Two in custody, charged with murder following shooting at Sikeston park

SIKESTON — Two men are in custody, facing charges for their alleged involvement in a shooting incident that killed one man and seriously injured a woman Tuesday at a Sikeston park.

Tanner Watkins, 20, of Sikeston and Kaleb Michael Ramsey, 18, of Morehouse, Missouri, are each charged through Scott County with the following felonies: first-degree murder; armed criminal action; three counts of first degree assault; and four counts of unlawful use of a weapon, according to online court records.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 25, Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to Rotary Park located at 300 Industrial Drive in Sikeston in reference to reports of gun fire, according to Sgt. Tyler Rowe, public information officer for Sikeston DPS.

Officers responded to the area to investigate the incident and were able to locate the scene where the shooting took place. Officers were also able to determine that an altercation between several individuals occurred at the park, and they located and identified all people involved in the incident, Rowe said.

During the investigation, it was determined there were two victims from the shooting: an 18-year-old male who was pronounced dead at a local hospital and an 18-year-old female who sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported for medical care.

Sikeston DPS Criminal Investigations Unit is currently investigating the incident with the assistance of The Southeast Missouri Major Case Squad comprised of investigators from Sikeston DPS, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the New Madrid County Sheriff’s office, was activated.

Ramsey and Watkins were identified as suspects and arrested by investigators. They are currently in custody of law enforcement and being held without bond with a court hearing set for 1 p.m. Friday, April 28 in Scott County.

“The investigation is still ongoing and no further information is being released at this time,” Rowe said. “The names of the victims are not being released out of respect for the families.”

However, the female who was injured in Tuesday’s incident is a student at Chaffee High School.

"While this incident did not occur on our campus, it did involve one of our students and has had an impact on our students and community,” Chaffee R-2 Superintendent Dr. Shawn Nix said in a statement to the Standard Democrat on Thursday, April 27. “We, as a school, are here to help any student that feels the need to speak with a counselor. We are blessed with a supportive community.”

The Chaffee Community Care Portal has planned a vigil for the community to come together at 6 p.m. Friday, April 28 at Circle Park. Local ministers and counselors will be on hand for anyone who would like to speak with them, the superintendent said.

Nix said: “As I said in an email to parents: ‘We will work together to heal as a community.’”