ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A St. Louis County man was charged Tuesday after police said he shot two people during an argument while children were hiding in another room of the house.
Donnovan Gray, 51, was charged with two counts of assault, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and multiple other crimes in connection with a shooting in Ferguson Monday evening. Police said two victims were struck by gunfire and five children were hiding feet away at the time of the shooting.
According to the probable cause statement, Gray arrived at the victims' home at about 6 p.m., where one of the victims began arguing with Gray over a trailer Gray had parked at the home. During the argument, Gray started to choke the victim.
Police said the second victim arrived at the house while the argument was ongoing and tried to calm things down, but Gray pulled out a gun and pointed it at the second victim. The second victim then pulled out their gun.
Police said Gray then shot the second victim multiple times in the abdomen, and the victim returned fire, striking Gray in the shoulder. Police said Gray then shot the first victim in the leg.
Police said this all happened while five children were inside the home. The children were hiding in a room feet away from the shooting, according to the probable cause statement.
Both of the victims were taken to the hospital, where the second victim underwent emergency surgery. In the initial report, police said a woman and two men were injured, and one of the men suffered life-threatening injuries.
Police said Gray was not permitted to have a gun due to a prior felony conviction.
In all, Gray was charged with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm and endangering the welfare of a child.
He is being held without bond.
