A Hillsboro-area man told authorities Thursday night (June 25) that he thought he’d been shot, but he didn’t know for sure until X-rays showed a small-caliber bullet inside his chest.
The man, 43, is in stable condition, Lt. John Dolan of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported today (June 26).
He said physicians decided not to remove the bullet because surgery to take it out would endanger the victim more than leaving it.
“It’s not life-threatening,” Dolan said. “X-rays showed it’s a small-caliber bullet. We can’t tell the (exact) caliber because we don’t have it.”
The incident occurred about 10 p.m. in the 4000 block of Bourbon Farm Road while the man was working on his car in his driveway, he told law enforcement.
“A gentleman stated he thought he was shot,” Dolan said. “He felt a sting – didn’t see a car or hear a shot. He noticed he was bleeding. When he felt the pain he went over to a neighbor’s and they called 911.”
Valle Ambulance transported the victim to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in south St. Louis County.
Dolan said deputies interviewed neighbors, and at least one of them reported hearing gunshots an hour before the man was shot.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit at 636-797-5515.