Reward offered for suspect in Feb. 1 shooting

A $1,000 reward is being offered by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department for information leading to the capture of Desean R. Bell.

Authorities have been searching for the 21-year-old since Feb. 1 when he allegedly shot Keith L. Whitehead.

The 47-year-old Neelyville man was shot in the back, and authorities report he still is hospitalized at this time.

Deputies, according to earlier reports, initially searched relatives’ home and vehicles in the area of the Big Cane Conservation Area at Neelyville for Bell, but to no avail.

Bell had been left at the conservation area when others took Whitehead to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment.

“We’ve followed up on several leads and spent a lot of time searching for him,” said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs. “We are certain he is being assisted by family members.

“ … We are eager to make a case on anybody for harboring him.”

On Wednesday, Dobbs said, the sheriff’s department received “two separate phone calls from family members, threatening law enforcement.

“Both callers said they would shoot or kill law enforcement if they went back to his mother’s house. Obviously, that doesn’t deter us.”

Bell’s mother, April McComb, was with her son and Whitehead when the shooting occurred at the conservation area, located off of County Road 276.

McComb and Whitehead’s brother, Tyrone Turner, who also was present at the time of the shooting, took Whitehead to the hospital.

Whitehead and his brother reported to deputies they were hanging out when Whitehead was confronted by Bell.

“K. Whitehead reported D. Bell stated, ‘Why you looking at me crazy?” Deputy Marcus Kirby wrote in his probable-cause statement.

Kirby said Whitehead further reported he attempted to de-escalate the situation.

“This is when D. Bell brandished a black pistol, with brown grips, and fired two shots at him,” Kirby said. “(He) stated the first shot missed, but he was struck by the second shot fired at him.”

Turner, Kirby said, reported McComb began to shoot off fireworks while they were at the boat ramp.

“Mr. Turner advised that a few moments later he heard what he described as two gunshots,” Kirby said. “Mr. Turner stated that Mr. Whitehead then looked at him and advised that he had been shot.”

Turner reportedly did not hear any kind of argument/altercation between his brother and Bell.

The motive for the shooting reportedly remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about Bell’s whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 573-785-8444.