Juvenile charged with murder

BLOOMFIELD -- A 13-year-old male is charged in Tuesday's shooting death of a Dexter man.

According to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner, the juvenile, whose name is being withheld, is being held in the Stoddard County Juvenile Detention Center.

A petition was filed with the juvenile court in relation to charges of first degree murder and armed criminal action for the shooting death of 64-year-

old Don McCollough of Dexter.

Chief Juvenile Office Mike Davis is requesting a Certification as an Adult Hearing be held concerning the 13-year-old.

According to a released statement, a call came in to Stoddard County 911 dispatchers at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday reporting an unresponsive man on a farm at 21044 County Road 550 East of Bloomfield.

Stoddard County Emergency Medical Services and the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department immediately responded to the scene where after a brief investigation, Hefner activated the Stoddard County Major Case Squad.

Hefner refused to comment directly on the case itself Wednesday afternoon, but a full investigation is under way and officials are awaiting the results of a Wednesday autopsy to determine the official cause of death.

"Mr. McCollough is so well-thought-of in the community," the sheriff told media outlets, "It's very surprising."