Police make arrest in killing of McCaster, found in Ranney Park

A witness told police homicide victim Domorlo McCaster was in the front passenger seat of a gold SUV when Malcolm U. Harris shot him in the back of the head, according to a probable-cause statement from detective Joe Thomas.

The Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case squad arrested Harris, 24, of Cape Girardeau about noon Friday in Cape Girardeau and charged him with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence and abandonment of a corpse.

During the investigation, detectives received an anonymous call stating the victim was sitting in a gold vehicle when he was shot in the head and killed, Thomas wrote. Through subsequent investigation, detectives learned McCaster was last seen in the vehicle with Harris and two witnesses, according to the statement.

Two witnesses, neither of whom is named in the probable-cause statement, said they were in the GMC Envoy with McCaster, 28, of Cape Girardeau and Harris in the early morning hours of either May 13 or 14, according to the statement. The location of the shooting also was left ambiguous in the statement, listed as within the city limits of Cape Girardeau. “Witness 1” was seated in the driver seat alongside McCaster, and he said he heard a gunshot and jumped out of the vehicle along with “Witness 2,” Thomas wrote. He saw Harris holding a black handgun in his right hand and then Harris told Witness 1 to get rid of the gun, according to the statement.

Witness 2 was seated alongside Harris, and he saw Harris pull the trigger, hit McCaster in the back of the head and saw McCaster slump over the middle of the console of the vehicle, according to the statement. Witness 2 said he then ran from the vehicle.

Witness 1 said he and Harris then drove to the wooded area just southeast of Ranney Park where they dumped McCaster’s body. McCaster was later found by a landscaper at about 4 p.m. May 19. Thomas wrote in the statement detectives believed McCaster had been dead for a number of days before the discovery of the body.

The major case squad has been active for nine days and interviewed five people of interest in the past week: Terrell Hunt and Clarissa Simpson on Thursday; and Rodney Smith, Michael Anderson and Brian Jackson on Tuesday. Cape Girardeau Police Department public information officer Adam Glueck said the major case squad usually is active for only 72 hours.

Harris was previously charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Dec. 16, 2012, slaying of Nicholas Gilbert at The Spot nightclub. An unnamed female witness said she saw Harris shoot Gilbert in the chest after a physical altercation inside the club, according to a probable-cause statement from detective Don Perry. Harris’ right hand — on his palm, thumb and finger tips — later tested positive for iron that indicated he handled a metal object, possibly a gun.

That case was dismissed May 2, 2013. Harris’ brother, Alexander Harris, 25 at the time, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the same case Aug. 6, 2014.

Perry wrote that Alexander Harris shot himself in the hand before hitting Gilbert in the chest. Perry also wrote there was a trail of blood at the scene leading away from Gilbert’s body and out of the nightclub.

Malcolm Harris previously pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and second-degree robbery in 2011. He received a five years probation, on a suspended execution of sentence.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

Ranney Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.