A man was shot and killed this morning (Sept. 16) outside a mobile home southwest of Festus during what appears to have been an attempted burglary, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said two men showed up at the home in the 400 block of Sequoia Drive off Meyer Road at about 1:40 a.m. and appeared to try to get inside, and a 27-year-old man who lives there shot and killed one of them. The second man ran away, Bissell said.
According to the investigation so far, the homeowner was awakened early this morning when someone knocked on his door. He reportedly heard someone trying to open the door, so he got a gun and went to the door, Bissell said.
Shortly after the homeowner went to the door, it reportedly was opened. Bissell said he didn’t know if the homeowner opened the door or if the men at the door opened it.
One of the men outside the home allegedly sprayed a chemical substance in the homeowner’s face, and then the homeowner fired his gun at the two men, shooting and killing the one, Bissell said.
As of this morning (Sept. 16), the Sheriff’s Office had not released information about the man who died because his next of kin had not been notified.
Bissell said deputies had taken into custody two people whom investigators believe may have played a role in the attempted burglary. He said he did not know if either of the people being interviewed was at the home when the shooting occurred.
Investigators believe the homeowner was acting in self-defense and have not arrested the shooter, and it does not appear the homeowner will face charges, Bissell said.