Charleston murders still unsolved

Wednesday, April 5, 2006

CHARLESTON -- Investigations into recent murders in Charleston are still under way.

While no arrests have been made yet, Charleston Police Chief Paul Johnson said Tuesday he hopes to be able to announce a positive outcome for the investigations soon.

Justin Patrick Robinson, 23, of Charleston was shot on March 31 at the intersection of West Marshall and Locust streets. At 2:30 a.m., he was pronounced dead at the scene by Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker.

An autopsy on Robinson was conducted at the Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, according to Parker.

"That was completed Monday," he said. "We won't have the toxicology for several weeks, but (the cause of death) was a single gunshot wound to the head."

The second murder still under investigation occurred one week earlier at around 2:30 a.m. on March 24 at a residence on South First Street.

The victim, Shawn Johnson, 39, of Cairo, Ill., was also shot to death.

A man who lived at the Charleston residence where the shooting took place was treated for stab wounds at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston and has returned home, according to the police chief.

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