Unnamed teen airlifted after Kennett shooting, police investigate juvenile involvement

KENNETT, Mo. - An unidentified teenage man was shot down here Tuesday afternoon and airlifted to a Memphis hospital for treatment of what police say is a life-threatening injury.

Dunklin County and Kennett first responders were on scene at approximately noon at the Cottonwood Plaza strip center at 686 Independence Ave., near Bradley Street, where the 19-year-old victim ran after he was shot somewhere in the 2000 Block of Bradley Street, Kennett Police Dept. Chief Kenny Wilson said.

The victim, who is said to have suffered a through-and-through wound to the left shoulder, still is unnamed pending notification of next of kin, Wilson said.

A 16-year-old alleged shooter, who Wilson said "was very cooperative during questioning" is expected to be charged as an adult. Those charges are pending and will be filed by Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain, Wilson said.

Pending charges are felony first-degree assault and felony armed criminal action, according to a police report.

Dunklin County Sheriff Nick Darter, Chief Deputy Bobby Jones, along with Wilson and other KPD officers, Jain's investigator Mark Dennis, Kennett Fire Dept. personnel, Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel and Medic One Ambulance Service personnel all responded to the scene.

Unverified reports stated an ongoing argument led to the shooting, and that two juveniles were in police custody at the Kennett Police Department. One juvenile was released from custody, Wilson said.

The unidentified victim was airlifted to the Med at Memphis for examination and treatment, Wilson said.

This is a developing story.