Location: Fivestar, 2600 H.C. Mathis Drive
Suspect(s): Marcus V. Cleary, 40, of the 1900 block of Park Avenue arrested on charges of two counts of first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and second-degree fleeing or evading police
A Paducah police officer on routine patrol witnessed a shooting last night in the parking lot of a Park Avenue convenience store, chased the shooter through the lot on foot and arrested him.
The investigation revealed that a 39-year-old man was riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, turning onto the parking lot of Fivestar, 2600 H.C. Mathis Drive, when a man, later identified as Marcus V. Cleary, came up behind him and shot him. As the victim was riding away on his bicycle, Cleary walked toward the front of the store.
There, he approached two men working on a vehicle in the parking lot near the entrance of the convenience store. He demanded money from a 55-year-old man, then shot him as he tried to hand Cleary cash.
Officer Pedro Loredo was near the convenience store when he heard a gunshot. Loredo drove into the parking lot of the store and saw a man walking through the parking lot with a gun in his hand. Cleary saw Loredo and ran, but stopped when Loredo chased him and ordered him to the ground.
Another officer, who also was nearby and heard a gunshot, arrived and assisted Loredo with detaining Cleary.
During this time, the victim on the bicycle rode to an apartment complex on Trimble Street, and a resident called police. Officers rendered first aid to him until an ambulance arrived. Officers also provided first aid care to the victim at the convenience store until EMS arrived. There were a number of people in the parking lot at the time, but no one else was injured.
Both victims were treated locally and transferred to an out-of-state hospital in critical condition. Detectives said Cleary did not know the victims. He told the detectives multiple times that he wanted to go back to prison.
Cleary has a lengthy criminal history, dating back to when he was a teen-ager. He has twice been convicted of Class C felony assault in Washington, in 2008 and 2012.
Cleary was booked into McCracken County Regional Jail Tuesday night.
“I am extremely proud of Officer Loredo,” said Chief of Police Brian Laird. “I believe that had Officer Loredo not intervened, there would have been more victims. He pulled into that parking lot not knowing exactly what had just occurred, and placed himself in harm’s way to stop an armed subject from shooting more people.”
