One person is in custody after a Poplar Bluff man was shot multiple times early Thursday morning.
The victim was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital, officials said. Updates on his condition were not available as of 11 a.m. Thursday.
Officers were dispatched just after 5 a.m. Thursday to the 400 block of South Seventh Street in reference to a subject who had been shot, said Poplar Bluff Police Chief Mike McClain.
“Upon arrival, officers found a 49-year-old male who had apparent gunshot wounds to his upper body,” McClain said.
The victim was transported by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center emergency room and subsequently transferred to a St. Louis hospital by helicopter for further treatment, he explained.
A suspect, Julius Hayward, 20, of Poplar Bluff was arrested at 8 a.m. Thursday in Cape Girardeau, said Capt. J.R. Keirsey. Hayward is currently being held in Cape Girardeau, where Poplar Bluff detectives will interview him before he is expected to be transported to Butler County jail.
Hayward was arrested without incident, Keirsey said.
“We received information he had ties to the Cape area and asked for the assistance (of law enforcement) to check an address given to us,” Keirsey said.
Poplar Bluff authorities were still processing the South Seventh Street scene as of 11 a.m. and expected to search additional property.
Authorities believe the incident was caused by a domestic dispute, but are continuing to investigate.
A handgun was used in the shooting, but had not been recovered as of Thursday morning.
Hayward faces possible charges of first degree assault and armed criminal action for the shooting, in which the victim was shot three to four times in the upper body, Keirsey said.
This is an evolving story and additional information will be shared as it becomes available.