STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — A man was arrested and charged in connection with an incident that began at a Ste. Genevieve gas station and ended with firing a crossbow at a vehicle and hitting a man in the chest.
According to court documents, 19-year-old Jack Farlow of Ste. Genevieve was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, both felonies, in connection to a violent incident on Oct. 9.
The victim and another person had gone to the BP gas station at 599 Ste. Genevieve Drive to purchase cigarettes, a probable cause statement says. Inside the store, they encountered a group of young people who followed them when they left, driving directly behind them on U.S. Highway 61 and honking and flashing their lights at them.
When the truck pulled alongside them, Farlow allegedly fired a crossbow into the driver's side window of the truck and struck the victim, who was riding in the passenger seat, in the chest with an arrow. The suspect truck then drove off, and the victim traveled back toward Ste. Genevieve, stopping at Rhodes 101 to get help.
The victim was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.
The Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff's Office was able to track down the suspect vehicle, which was driven by a 17-year-old suspect, after reviewing gas station surveillance footage. The teen gave information that matched what was shown in the video and said that he, Farlow and another friend had followed the victim's truck when Farlow fired his crossbow toward it. The third suspect's account was consistent with information from others.
Farlow was arrested early on Oct. 10, the probable cause statement says. During an interview, Farlow told deputies he had wanted the fight the victim following an interaction in the gas station but they had driven off. He said he told his 17-year-old friend to follow the vehicle and had fired his crossbow toward the front tire of the victim's pickup so they would stop and he could fight them. He said he thought his arrow had hit the truck but didn't know where.
When asked if Farlow was trying to kill the victim, he said no and added he is "young and hot-headed," the probable cause statement says.
A bond hearing is scheduled for 9:05 a.m. on Oct. 25.
If convicted, Farlow faces 10 to 30 years or life imprisonment for assault and three to 15 years in prison for armed criminal action.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged from the emergency department after being shot.
