A 29-year-old Festus man suffered two “life-threatening” gunshot wounds Sunday (Oct. 21) in an altercation that is under investigation by the Festus Police Department, Police Chief Tim Lewis said.
On Monday, the victim remained at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur, Lewis said. He said although the man’s wounds are serious, he believes he will recover.
Lewis said Festus Police were called at 11:05 p.m. to a home in the 400 block of Benton Drive. They found the 29-year-old lying in a neighbor’s yard with gunshot wounds to the abdomen and began administering first aid. He was transported by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance to Mercy Hospital St. Louis.
The victim lives in the home on Benton, as do a 27-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman who were interviewed at the scene and later taken to the Police Station for further questioning. As of Monday morning, they were not in custody, Lewis said.
Lewis said the initial investigation indicated that, “Some type of altercation occurred between the (27-year-old man and the victim). Both appeared to be fighting over a handgun and during the fight, the 29-year-old man sustained two gunshot wounds.”
Both men ran out of the house after the shooting, and the injured man collapsed in the neighbor’s yard, police reported.
Lewis said the incident remains under investigation and it will be up to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office whether charges will be filed against any of those involved in the incident.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk to the victim yet,” Lewis said. “Once we do, we will present all our findings to the prosecuting attorney.”