A 39-year-old Pevely man was shot in the stomach early Sunday, May 8, after he intervened in a dispute between his juvenile son and a St. Louis man who later was charged in the shooting. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries, Pevely Police Chief Mark Glenn said.
Thomas Wingenbach, 40, of St. Louis is suspected of shooting the Pevely man and has been charged with first-degree assault, a class A felony punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison, and armed criminal action, an unclassified felony punishable by a minimum of three years in prison.
Wingenbach was in custody at the Jefferson County Jail as of May 10.
Glenn said Pevely Police got a call at approximately 12:40 a.m. about the shooting, which occurred at the victim’s home on Hazelwood Court.
“Upon arrival, officers observed a person in the front yard of the residence holding a handgun,” Glenn said. “Officers immediately handcuffed the person and secured the handgun. The homeowner then advised officers that he had been shot while fighting with the subject.”
The victim said he came out of his bedroom and saw Wingenbach and his son fighting.
“The homeowner separated his son from the subject and forced the subject to exit the residence, at which time a melee ensued between the subject and the homeowner,” Glenn said. “As they were fighting, the homeowner stated that the subject pulled out a handgun and shot him once in the stomach.”
The victim was transported by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Glenn said.