Centralia Police are investigating a Thursday night shooting and stabbing that occurred on the opposite ends of town.
Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson says 30-year-old LaQuisha Lockett of Centralia was the victim of the shooting. She was taken from the scene of the shooting in the 900 block of East Kell to the SSM Health St. Mary’s Emergency Room by a friend prior to the arrival of police. She suffered a gunshot wound to the face. Lockett was later flown to a St. Louis Hospital in stable condition. Dodson says while the injury was serious, it was non-life-threatening.
The suspect was identified by Lockett and other witnesses as 44-year-old Nathan Johnson of Centralia. Police were told the incident started with some children fighting at the same location. When the parents and adults got involved, the situation escalated and Johnson reportedly left, went and retrieved a gun, then returned and shot Lockett. Johnson had fled before police arrived and is currently being sought. The shooting was reported at 8:40 pm.
About an hour later, police were called to investigate a stabbing on the 700 block of East 15th Street near the Hickory Meadows subdivision. The victim, identified as 24-year-old Joshua Arian Scott of Centralia, was found at the scene with multiple stab wounds. Dodson says the stabbing occurred as Scott was walking away from an earlier disturbance at Arizona Joe’s Bar. Neither Scott nor anyone at Arizona Joe’s wanted to pursue any charges and Scott was sent on his way.
The stabbing incident occurred about 20 minutes later when police received a report of the fight on East 15th. Once on the scene, police found Scott lying in the roadway. Witnesses reported that Scott was involved in an altercation with multiple suspects. Scott was transferred to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and later transferred by medical helicopter to a St. Louis Hospital in serious condition.
Centralia Police received assistance in handling the calls from the Marion and Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, as well as State, Carlyle, Germantown, Wamac, and Central City Police.
