Bell ordered to stand trial for double murder

Editor's note: The following story has been edited to correct Argentry Marshall's last name, and to say a family member of a victim yelled out at a woman sobbing for Bell, instead of attributing that action to a particular family, since the person's identity wasn't verified.

Prosecutors portrayed Kenneth D. Bell Jr. as a coldblooded killer with a hair trigger, as witnesses and police investigators told a judge Thursday the 21-year-old defendant repeatedly shot two victims to retaliate for a largely verbal confrontation. Shannon James and Misty Cole were shot to death in Cape Girardeau on Feb. 7.

A jury isn't likely to have to take law enforcement's word. Testimony revealed that written and video statements were handed over to prosecutors in which police said Bell confessed to shooting James and Cole, continuing to fire at them after they fell.

Such details emerged in the Cape Girardeau County courtroom in Jackson on Thursday. Judge Gary Kamp ordered Bell to stand trial on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. Bell was bound over to circuit court, where he is to be arraigned Monday before Judge Benjamin Lewis.

As the hearing ended, a family member of a victim yelled at a woman who was sobbing for Bell.

"We're the ones who lost a family member," she yelled. "We're the ones who will never see our family any more."

Both sides barked similar comments at each other until bailiffs restored order. None of those involved would comment after the hearing.

A few of those same people were weeping quietly moments earlier as circumstances surrounding the shootings were detailed. Argentry Marshall, a friend of James, testified he witnessed what he believed to be the reason for the shooting. A police detective described the brutal details of the killings and Bell's alleged panicked attempt to flee.

Marshall testified the incident began when he and James approached Bell and another man as they walked along Bloomfield Road toward an apartment building at 401 S. Pacific St. Marshall went around the two men who were standing on the sidewalk, he said, but James chose to walk between them, bumping into Bell.

Bell and James traded words, but James eventually let it go. He walked with Marshall to the apartment building. When Marshall went to open the door to the building's first-floor hallway, he said he saw Bell inside with what police described as a 9 mm Luger pistol. Marshall turned and ran. He described hearing short bursts of gunfire, but he didn't see the shooting.

Sgt. Don Perry, a detective with the department for more than 25 years, testified he interviewed Bell during the early morning hours of Feb. 8. Bell initially declined to talk to police, Perry said, but Bell reconsidered when he learned police had obtained a search warrant for his apartment.

On the stand Thursday, Perry said Bell told him the events happened just as Marshall claimed. The men had their incident on the sidewalk. Bell told Perry that he went to his apartment and then into the hallway to wait for James.

When James saw Bell and the gun, Perry said, he told Bell, "I've got something for you." That's when the door to James' apartment was opened by Cole.

"The door opened and she was in the doorway," Perry said. "That's when Mr. Bell began firing."

Initial shots brought down Cole and James, but James had retreated into the apartment, Perry said. As Bell walked over a wounded Cole, Perry said, Bell fired more shots into her body. With James already down, he shot him again and again, Perry testified.

Bell told Perry he knew James and Cole only from seeing them in the building.

"He didn't even know their names," Perry said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

100 Court St., Jackson, MO

401 S. Pacific St., Cape Girardeau, MO