Charges filed in Jefferson City murder

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION, at 4 p.m. CDT Saturday.

Cole County prosecutors filed second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon charges Saturday, against Paris M. Alexander-Henderson, 25, Jefferson City.

Alexander-Henderson was charged with killing Bryant O. Sturkey, 33, in what Jefferson City police say was the result of a dispute concerning other family members.

Police said Alexander-Henderson was being held in the Cole County Jail without any bond being set.

Police said their investigation began at 12:45 a.m. Saturday, when the 911 Communications center received a call for shots fired in the area of the 1400 block of Elizabeth Street.

Responding officers found a car leaving the area at a high rate of speed, and carrying Sturkey.

He was transferred to an ambulance and taken to an area hospital, but was pronounced dead there.

Police said witnesses identified both a suspect and a suspect vehicle.

Cole County sheriff's deputies located the suspect - Alexander-Henderson - at a residence in the Westview Heights neighborhood, which is outside Jefferson City's limits, and said he was taken into custody without incident.

Deputies said they also recovered a weapon used in the shooting and the vehicle used to flee from the Elizabeth Street scene.

A police news release said that, during questioning at the police department, Alexander-Henderson confessed to his role as the shooter and told authorities about a dispute concerning other family members that led to the shooting.

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Jefferson City Police are currently investigating a murder that occurred at approximately 12:45 a.m. Saturday morning.

Police reports show the 911 Communications center received a call for shots fired in the area of the 1400 block of Elizabeth Street.

Responding officers located a car leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle was found to contain a 23 year old, Jefferson City resident suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was take to an area hospital, were he was pronounced dead as a result of his wounds.

Witnesses in the area identified a suspect and a suspect vehicle.

Investigators and officers on the scene developed a possible location for the suspect.

Cole County Sheriff's Department deputies located the suspect at a residence in the Westview Heights neighborhood and he was taken into custody without incident.

The weapon used in the shooting, as well as the vehicle used to flee the scene were recovered.

During questioning at the police department, the suspect confessed to his role as the shooter and told authorities the shooting was a result of a dispute concerning other family members.

The suspect, Paris M. Alexander-Henderson, 25, was taken to the Cole County Jail to await formal charges of first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.