A quarrel between two 22-year-old men led to a shooting on Wednesday, June 15, at a Festus apartment, which left one of the men dead, Festus Police reported.
The victim has been identified as Marcus Lorenzo James of Festus, Chief Tim Lewis reported this morning, June 16.
Lewis said the shooter, a Barnhart man, has been identified and police are seeking him this morning.
Festus Police got a call at approximately 5:40 p.m. about the shooting at the apartment in the 1500 block of Westvale Drive, Lewis said.
When officers arrived at the scene, several people told them there had been a shooting on the second floor of the apartment building, he said.
“The officers saw several bullet holes in the door to the apartment and they called out for the tenant to answer,” Lewis said. “When the tenant didn’t answer, they forced open the door and discovered the victim-tenant lying on the floor.”
Lewis said officers and Festus Fire Department personnel administered first aid to the victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told officers the victim had an altercation with the Barnhart man in a different apartment in the building shortly before the shooting.
“After the fight was over, both left the apartment,” Lewis said. “The victim went to his apartment upstairs and, according to witnesses, the suspect went to his car, retrieved a firearm, went to (the victim’s apartment) and fired several shots through the apartment door. After the shooting, the suspect left in a blue Hyundai Sonata.”
Lewis said officers were told the victim and shooter “had quarreled in the past and there was bad blood between them.”
He said the suspect was identified by witnesses and video surveillance footage. Festus Police are seeking charges against the man today.
He said the suspect’s name will not be released until charges are filed.
Anyone with information is urged to call Festus Police at 636-937-3646.