FENTON, Mo. — A shooting investigation is underway after a man was injured while confronting suspects in car break-ins on Sunday in Fenton.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said the incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday in the 1st block of Wallach Drive near Fenton.
The man was shot after he confronted multiple suspects breaking into cars, according to police. He sustained minor injuries and was released by EMS at the scene.
Grant Bissell, Public Safety Information Coordinator for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, said the man came out of his house after a neighbor down the street called him.
The suspects had been at his neighbor's house rummaging through their car and then the neighbor saw the suspect headed down the street, according to Bissell.
Police said the victim grabbed the person who was in his vehicle and pulled him out of the car. Then, that suspect got a gun and shot at the victim multiple times.
According to Bissell, the bullet just grazed his shoulder and there are no serious injuries from it.
"It was a graze wound and we think he's lucky in that situation, because the suspect fired multiple times at him, and had it been a couple of inches further this direction, you know, this situation could have been entirely different," he said.
Shawna Walker and her fiancé live right across the street from where it all took place.
Walker said their community isn't used to hearing gunshots in their neighborhood.
"You don't think that you live in a place where someone's going to get shot over petty theft, you know, human life, you would think it's more important than stealing a few things out of a car," she said.
On Monday afternoon Walker and her fiancé were putting up some last-minute Christmas decorations in their yard, while they were still trying to wrap their heads around what took place just steps away from their home the night before.
"All of a sudden, we heard three gunshots and Brian jumped up, and he said, 'I thought that sounded like gunfire,' and there was a car in the driveway, right here, right in the street," she said.
Walker said she ran across the street to her neighbor's house and then found out that he had been shot while confronting car thieves in his driveway.
"Next thing you know; I was taking care of the kids and the police were here and it was just really scary thing for the whole neighborhood," she said.
It's a kind of crime that Bissell said is an ongoing threat to the whole community.
"This is the second time in the last couple of years that we've had an incident like this, and it's very concerning for us and for the people of Jefferson County," he said.
According to Bissell, this is a regional problem and one that worries law enforcement because a lot of criminals arrested for property-type crimes are back on the streets quickly.
"It's more difficult now for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors and judges, to keep somebody behind bars. There's an argument that can be made that adjustments need to be made," he said.
Walker said the neighborhood will need time to heal from this terrifying incident.
"Their kids were right in the window, and their dad got shot. It's horrifying, over petty theft," she said.
Police are reminding the residents of Jefferson County to lock everything up, so the criminals don't come back.
"You don't go fishing in the same spot where you didn't catch a fish the last five or six times you move to the next spot. It's the same type of logic here," Bissell said.
The suspects in the incident drove away from the scene and were last seen driving toward Old Sugar Creek in a dark-colored sedan. No other information was provided about the suspects.
The sheriff's office said there is no immediate danger to those in the area.
Walker added that when they woke up on Monday morning one of their vehicles had been broken into. She said nothing was stolen, but that means someone had to have gotten into their car between the time the police left at midnight to Monday at 6 a.m.
Bissell said if anyone else is put in this situation to call 9-1-1 first, so a police officer can head over. He said beyond that, you do have a right to protect your property, but you need to be aware of what could happen.
"Make sure you understand the consequences of your action both criminally and potentially civilly, but also understand that you might be playing with your life, so is the property that you're trying to protect, worth injury to yourself, or maybe potential consequences legally or civilly down the road for you. Again, that's a decision that you need to weigh, and that can be tough in the heat of the moment, but educate yourself ahead of time," he said.
This is still an ongoing investigation, so if you have any information about this incident, you can call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau at 636 -797-5515.
Bissell said police are still trying to track down exactly where the suspects' vehicle was from and whether or not it was stolen.
This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will update with information as soon as it is available.
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.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to “stabilize inner-city neighborhoods.” One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
To learn more, call 314-381-8200 or visit https://www.betterfamilylife.org/
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.”
To learn more, call 314-327-6697 or email: ProjectLOV@WUSTL.edu
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership with Saint Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
To learn more, visit https://www.ulstl.com/anti-crime-initiative.html
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities. To learn more, visit https://cvg.org/