On Friday, July 3, 2020 at 11:40 p.m., a 12 year-old male was peacefully dancing and performing with his dance instructor and a fellow student in the downtown area of Cape Girardeau, Missouri on a Main Street sidewalk near Independence Street. It was at this time and location that a dark-colored sports utility vehicle stopped abruptly in the westbound lanes of Independence. An adult male suspect exited the passenger seat of this vehicle and snuck up behind the juvenile as the juvenile was dancing. The adult suspect then struck the juvenile with extreme force in the back of the head in a violent and completely unprovoked attack. The juvenile fell to the concrete pavement while the suspect immediate fled back to the waiting vehicle. The juvenile’s dance instructor immediately chased after the suspect but the suspect jumped back into the vehicle and the vehicle immediately fled from the area. Officers were quickly on scene and the juvenile was transported to a local hospital. The juvenile was bleeding from the head and nose but he has since been released from the hospital.
Cape Girardeau police officers were able to identify the suspect after viewing video footage of the incident. Officers have since travelled to the suspect’s residence and various additional locations he is known to frequent; however, they have been met with a lack of cooperation from the suspect’s friends and family.
A formal warrant has now been issued on the suspect, who is now able to be publicly identified as, Cedric Charles Moore, Jr., a 27 year-old male from Cape Girardeau. Moore is being charged with Felony Assault in the 2nd Degree and Felony Child Endangerment in the 1st Degree due to the age of the victim and the violence of the act. Moore’s bond has been set at $50,000.00 cash only.
The public has understandably expressed a desire to see Moore charged with a hate crime for this heinous crime. In accordance with state statutes, this charge would only apply if the assault was categorized to a lesser degree, which would not be in the best interest of seeking true justice for the victim.
Cape Girardeau County State Prosecutor Mark Welker explains, “The statute to file a hate crime is listed under RSMo 557.035. This statute allows the State to enhance only specific crimes if the State believes that the crime was motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability of the victim. The possible crime that would fit this matter that is capable of being enhanced by the Hate Crime Statute is Assault in the 3rd degree. This is a lower degree of assault then what has been filed. The Endangering and Assault 2nd are not offenses that are eligible to be enhanced by this statute.”
Officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department are continuing to survey locations that Moore may be located. Anyone harboring Moore should know they may be criminally charged for their actions.
Anyone with information on Moore’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Cape Girardeau Police Department at:
573-335-6621 (Business Line)
573-339-6313 (Anonymou`s Tip Line)
Text “CAPEPD” to 847411
(A Cape Girardeau Police Department booking photograph of Moore from 2017 is posted)