Arrest made after a gun was found at Houck stadium during Redhawks Game

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KBSI) — Officials are reporting a gun was found during the Redhawks game on Saturday, and the owner of the gun has been arrested.

Hundreds of people gathered here at Houck stadium for Southeast Missouri State University’s football game on Saturday, and as the players were working hard on the field, SEMO DPS officers were working hard behind the scenes after they located a loaded handgun inside the stadium.

SEMO DPS Director Richard Flotron shares details of the incident. 

“A 38- or 39-year-old male who was a contracted employee with the University. He bypassed the security procedures that were not in place yet because he entered early and stuck a bag containing a 9-millimeter handgun in a storage room.” 

An employee had brought and left a black bag unattended in a storeroom in Houck Stadium.

Flotron says the bag was found by one of the supervisors of the contracted company who immediately alerted SEMO DPS that they had found a suspicious bag with a gun inside.

Flotron shares that with a stadium full of people officers sprang into action and Cape Police Department was called for backup.

“The officers responded and basically through their investigation were able to locate who it was through the investigation. Checked some camera footage and so on and so forth and was able to apprehend the person without incident.”  says Flotron.

38-year-old William Wells of Cape Girardeau was arrested and faces charges for possessing a weapon on school grounds.

According to the probable cause statement a 9-millimeter handgun with a 17-round extended magazine clip that was loaded, and the weapon had one in the chamber totaling 18 rounds of ammunition was found.

Wells faces charges of –Unlawful use of weapon – subsection 10 – carries loaded weapon into school, bus, premises, function. 

Wells told officers he did not intend to use the gun and only brought it onto campus for his own protection.  Flotron says campus officials will be discussing how they will ensure this doesn’t happen again in the future– with possibly requiring all employees to go through a weapons detection system.

According to Flotron this arrest was a team effort. 

“I’m really impressed with the collaboration and corporation of everyone involved through our contracted employees and because by bringing this to our attention and our swift actions by the police officers should be commended. Also the response by cape city just goes to show that collaboration between us and cape city is invaluable.” 

Wells did not have a conceal and carry permit and was taken to Cape County Jail with a bond set at $20,000.

This is a developing story. Check back with KBSI23 for more updates.