High school graduation cut short as bullet flies in arena, Missouri cops say. Two shot

Two people were shot during a high school graduation ceremony held inside a Missouri college arena, police say.

The shooting at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University forced the evacuation and postponement of the Cape Central High School graduation Sunday, May 19, school officials said.

Cape Girardeau Police Lt. Rich Schmidt said the shooting stemmed from a fight inside the arena away from the ceremony, according to KFVS. The arena does not have metal detectors, the station reported.

The two gunshot victims suffered non-life threatening injuries, police said in a news release on Facebook. A person of interest was “quickly” detained.

No students or staff members were involved in the shooting, the school said.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder, who was at the arena for her son’s graduation, told KFVS the incident “was the most chaotic and scary scene” she has experienced.

“As spectators, no one in the arena knew exactly what happened, since the violence happened outside the arena, on the concourse,” Kinder said. “However, within seconds of hearing a gunshot, families were fleeing the stands, others were huddled over their loved ones, and terrified graduates were leaving the floor and looking for their parents.”

Southeast Missouri State University officials urged residents to avoid the area as the investigation was ongoing.

“We are thankful for the quick response of our school resource officers who were already at the Show-Me Center and the Cape Police Department officers who responded to the call,” the high school said. “We will be forced to reschedule the graduation ceremony at a later time. Please be patient with us as we work through this situation.”

Cape Girardeau Public Schools canceled classes at all schools Monday, May 20.

Cape Girardeau is about a 115-mile drive southeast from St. Louis.

This story was originally published May 20, 2024 at 8:49 AM with the headline "High school graduation cut short as bullet flies in arena, Missouri cops say. Two shot."