Two Cape Girardeau men, ages 36 and 22, were recovering in a hospital Thursday afternoon after being shot Wednesday on Jefferson Avenue, police said.

Cape Girardeau police officers interviewed both victims in the hospital about the shooting that occurred about 5:50 p.m. Wednesday in the 1000 block of Jefferson Avenue, public-information officer Sgt. Adam Glueck said.

Police also interviewed witnesses and people of interest from the scene, Glueck said.

Officers have yet to make an arrest in the case, he said.

Residents in the area, who declined to give their names, said 12 or more shots were fired.

One bystander said two white men started arguing with the two black victims in front of 1005 Jefferson Ave. before pulling handguns and firing several shots.

The older victim was struck in the chest and taken by ambulance to an area hospital, the bystander told a Southeast Missourian reporter.

The other victim was shot in the shoulder and taken to the hospital in a white Chevrolet Impala, according to emergency personnel talking over the scanner Wednesday night.

In a text message, Glueck wrote both victims were shot in the upper torso, but he could not comment on how many times they had been shot.

Several residents said police placed a white man in handcuffs at the scene.

Glueck said putting the man in handcuffs could have been a measure officers took to control a chaotic

scene and does not necessarily indicate the man was a suspect.

Glueck said a car and multiple houses were shot.

Investigators used 11 orange cones to indicate evidence in the middle of Jefferson Avenue.

Glueck said police have yet to receive any information that connects the shooting on Jefferson to a shooting in which a 20-year-old white male was injured at 2:30 a.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of Rand Street.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

1000 block of Jefferson Avenue, Cape Girardeau, Mo.