Two men were arrested after a fight in a church parking lot in Pevely that ended with one man allegedly shooting at the other’s car as it drove away. The incident occurred about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Community Bible Church of Pevely, 600 Riverview Drive, authorities reported.
Steven Michael Litz, 23, of Imperial has been charged with two felonies after allegedly fighting with a 21-year-old Pevely man and shooting at his car, court documents said.
The Pevely man also was arrested, and police are seeking felony charges against him, Pevely Police Capt. Larry Miller said.
The two men have had an ongoing dispute over a female they both have a relationship with, Miller said.
“During the investigation, it was discovered two males were fighting in a parking lot. As one subject attempted to leave in his vehicle, shots were fired from a semiautomatic handgun, striking the rear of the vehicle,” Miller said. “Neither party sustained any major injuries from this incident. The driver was not struck.”
Miller said the latest confrontation between the two men started when Litz was following the 21-year-old Pevely man in a car, and the two turned into the church parking lot. The two men got out of their vehicles, began to argue and then the confrontation turned physical with the two exchanging punches, Miller said.
Litz allegedly held the victim on the ground and choked him. Litz also allegedly placed the victim in a headlock, again restricting the victim from breathing, a probable-cause statement said.
“After the altercation, Litz threatened to slice the victim’s throat like a pig,” the report said.
The Pevely man was able to get away from Litz and got into his car to drive away, allegedly striking Litz with the car before leaving the parking lot, Miller said.
When Litz allegedly fired the gun, the bullet hit the rear passenger side of the vehicle, according to the report.
Litz has been charged with second-degree assault, a class D felony punishable by no more than seven years in prison, and armed criminal action, an unclassified felony punishable by a minimum of three years in prison.
A $34,000 surety bond was set in the case, and Litz was released on bond, according to the Jefferson County Jail’s Inmate Information Department.
Miller said the police seized Litz’s gun after the incident, and it is currently still in the department’s possession.
Pevely Police also will seek charges against the Pevely man through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for first-degree assault and armed criminal action, Miller said.