Cape Girardeau, Missouri—Police are investigating a shooting that took place at the Show Me Center on Sunday, May 19, during the Cape Central High School graduation ceremony. The incident resulted in two individuals being injured and prompted swift action by local law enforcement.
Incident Details
At approximately 2:33 p.m., the Cape Girardeau Police Department received multiple calls reporting gunfire inside the Show Me Center. Upon arrival, officers found that two people had been shot. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment. A person of interest is currently in custody, though names have not been released at this time.
Context of the Incident
The shooting occurred during the high school graduation ceremony for Cape Central High School. Despite the chaos, no students or staff members were injured. The attendees were safely evacuated from the building with the assistance of Show Me Center staff.
Fight and Shooting
According to Cape Girardeau Police Lt. Rick Schmidt, a fight broke out on the upper-level concourse of the Show Me Center, away from the graduation ceremony. During the altercation, a single shot was fired, resulting in gunshot wounds to the lower extremities of two individuals. The exact cause of the fight remains unknown.
Quick Response by Authorities
School Resource Officers from the Cape Girardeau Public School District, who were present for the graduation ceremony, quickly detained the person of interest and provided aid to the victims. Lt. Schmidt noted that there are no metal detectors at the entrances of the Show Me Center, which may be reviewed in light of this incident.
Impact on School Activities
Cape Central Superintendent Dr. Howard Benyon announced that the graduation ceremony would be rescheduled. Additionally, school will be canceled for students on Monday, May 20. This cancellation includes all afterschool activities, such as Cub Club, athletic practices, and other clubs or organizations. Cape Central students attending the Career and Tech Center will also not report for their blocks.
Response from the Community
Among the attendees at the ceremony was Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder, who was present with her family as her son was one of the 2024 graduates. Mayor Kinder shared her response to the shooting with Heartland News, expressing concern and solidarity with the affected families.
Ongoing Investigation
The Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad has been activated to assist with the investigation. Authorities are urging witnesses to contact the Major Case Squad at 573-335-6621 with any information related to the incident.
Police are continuing to investigate the situation, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
