Month: December 2022

Memphis, Tenn. – Kevin Wayne Fennell, 34, of Memphis, who was wanted by the
Memphis Police Department for First Degree Murder was captured by U.S. Marshals in
Missouri yesterday.

Tyreece Miller, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee,
announced today.

On November 15, 2022, Memphis police responded to a shooting in the 1300 block of
Springbrook Avenue.

Memphis Fire Department paramedics pronounced one man
deceased at the scene due to sustained gunshot wounds.

An arrest warrant was issued out of Shelby County for Kevin Fennell the next day.

On November 16, fugitive detectives with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office requested
assistance from the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in
Memphis to locate and apprehend Fennell.

The TRVFTF developed information that Fennell was around Columbia, Missouri, and
requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals in the Western District of Missouri,
Springfield office.

The Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force, Springfield office, began to search for Fennell.

Yesterday, the Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force along with the Columbia Police
Department located Fennell and surrounded a residence in the city.

The Columbia Police SWAT team was activated and arrived on-scene with an armored vehicle.

Fennell was called out of the residence through the armored vehicle’s loudspeaker, and he surrendered without incident.

Fennell is awaiting extradition back to Shelby County.

According to a press release from the Springfield Police Department:

“The Springfield Police Department needs the public’s assistance with identifying the driver of a vehicle related to a recent crash. 

On Oct. 26, 2022, at 12:41 p.m., officers responded to a two-vehicle accident at Division and Golden involving a red Ford Focus and a black 2000s Honda Accord. The Focus was westbound on Division through the intersection when the Accord started traveling south on Golden into the intersection, disobeying a stop sign, and hit the Focus.

The driver of the Accord is described as a white man in his 20s or 30s with short hair and a small, athletic build. He also appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

If anyone recognizes the vehicle or suspect description, please contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1447 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).”

Springfield Police have identified the pedestrian who died after being struck by two cars Wednesday night.

Investigators say that 45 year old Christopher Fleming of Springfield was hit as he was crossing South Campbell near Plainview Road.

He died later at a local hospital.

Police do not believe impairment was a factor.

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department has ruled the death of a man and woman at a house near Miller a murder-suicide.

Investigators say 43 year old Linda Kennedy of Chetopa, Kansas, shot and killed 55 year old Caleb Kingsley, while he was sleeping, then turned the gun on herself.

Deputies found their bodies when they went to the house for a well-being check.

Investigators have ruled out foul play in the death of a man found dead in a burning house in Monett.

Firefighters found the body Tuesday afternoon in the basement of the burning house on Second Street.

Investigators say there were no signs of trauma to the body.

They ruled the cause of death smoke inhalation.

They still have not been able to identify the man.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says the area is seeing a record breaking amount of flu cases.

During a virtual press conference Tuesday, spokespeople for the department reported over 1,000 cases during the flu season, including nearly 900 so far in November.

That number marks the most severe November flu outbreak in the area in 20 years.

Reports say the next highest November in terms of flu cases was 230 reported cases in 2009.

Officials encourage you to get a flu vaccine in order to protect yourself and others.

If you are interested in scheduling a time to get vaccinated for the flu, COVID-19 or other diseases, visit vaccine417.org or dial 417-874-1211.

Cox Health Officials say they’re seeing more people come to the hospital with respiratory viruses following the Thanksgiving holiday.

Cox Medical Group medical director Doctor Bryan Finke says more people are coming in with the flu, COVID, and RSV.

Doctor Finke says the pediatric unit has been full or nearly fully for about four weeks.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Mercy Springfield and CoxHealth are holding a media briefing Thursday morning at 10:30 to update the community on the prevalence of influenza and other respiratory illnesses here.

Leaders from both hospital systems are joining the health department in answering questions about the spread of these illnesses.

Watch live streaming video of the press conference here at 10:30 a.m.