Cape Girardeau man charged after armed robbery at South Plaza Way business

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — A Cape Girardeau man has been arrested and charged following an armed robbery at a business Monday evening, police said.

Officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department responded at about 7 p.m. Dec. 29, 2025, to the 000 block of South Plaza Way after a report of an armed robbery. Officers made contact with three employees outside the business and later located the suspect, identified as Wilbur Lively III, 54, in an employee-only area near the back of the store.

Lively was taken into custody and transported to the police department for booking. During intake, officers discovered a plastic bag containing about one gram of suspected methamphetamine concealed in Lively’s mouth, police said.

According to investigators, the victim reported that Lively entered the business and repeatedly asked for assistance with a box, behavior that made the victim uncomfortable. Lively was reported to have walked around the store multiple times and entered employee-only areas. Police said Lively leaned toward a customer at the checkout and told the customer he had a knife, then followed the customer outside and locked the door.

A short time later, Lively reentered the store and grabbed the victim, pulling her away from the cash register and attempting to force her into a nearby aisle. The victim was able to break free and flee the store as Lively ran toward the back, police said.

Lively was formally charged through the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with first-degree burglary, a Class B felony; fourth-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor; delivering or concealing prohibited articles on premises, a Class D felony; and possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony. He is being held without bond.

Authorities emphasized that charges are accusations and that Lively is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.