The Latest: 2nd man arrested in officer’s shooting death

CLINTON, Mo. – The Latest on the investigation into shooting death of a western Missouri police officer (all times local):

8 p.m.

Authorities have arrested another man in connection with last weekend’s shooting death of a western Missouri police officer.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe says William Noble of Clinton was taken into custody Thursday and charged with felony tampering with evidence. Lowe says that during the course of an interview, investigators determined that the 35-year-old Noble had disposed of the rifle believed to have been used in the officer’s killing.

Lowe earlier said that a gun had been found in a creek about two miles north of Clinton.

Thirty-nine-year-old Ian McCarthy is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Clinton police Officer Gary Michael.

Lowe says the relationship between McCarthy and Noble is unclear.

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4:35 p.m.

Investigators say they have found a rifle believed to have been used in last weekend’s shooting death of a western Missouri police officer.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe says the unspecified gun was found Thursday in a creek about two miles north of Clinton, where 37-year-old officer Gary Michael was shot and killed Sunday night.

Lowe says he couldn’t immediately specify the style of the rifle or how investigators came to find it.

A suspect in Michael’s death, 39-year-old Ian McCarthy, was arrested late Tuesday after a two-day manhunt and is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

McCarthy’s public defender, Alice Wasson, told The Associated Press that a not guilty plea will be entered on McCarthy’s behalf during a court appearance Friday.