ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — A woman is in critical condition after being shot multiple times in St. Charles County near St. Peters.
St. Charles County police are investigating and still searching for a man accused of shooting the woman Monday night.
The shooting happened around 7 p.m. in a residential neighborhood on Rose Marie Court near St. Peters-Howell Road. St. Charles County police said the 37-year-old woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Officials said the woman and suspect were casual acquaintances, and this wasn't a random incident.
In a statement on social media Monday night, St. Charles County police said there is "no threat to the surrounding community."
Police said they have not given a detailed description because they don't want to compromise the investigation.
Cpl. Barry Bayles, spokesman for the St. Charles County Police Department, said there was a third person who witnessed the shooting and called 911. The witness was interviewed by detectives on the scene.
"This is looking more complicated than what our investigators originally thought it would be when they arrived on the scene the further they look into it," Bayles said.
Tuesday afternoon the department said the statements they received from eyewitnesses were conflicting.
"We had evidence that we found outside and inside (a residence) and so we're trying to figure out exactly where it occurred. And we're getting conflicting reports from another individual who was interviewed last night," Bayles said.
John Wynn, a resident on the street, said the neighborhood is generally peaceful and he's lived there for the last five years.
"It is kind of heartbreaking just because this is more of a peaceful area," Wynn said.
Wynn said the shooting made him worry for children who play outside often.
"Anything could've ricocheted and hit one of the kids because they're constantly playing outside and I can say that for sure," Wynn said.
St. Charles County police said the investigation remains open and active with many leads.
Police were notified Tuesday afternoon the victim had surgery and was listed in stable condition, and they were waiting to interview her.
Investigators are still trying to learn more from the witness and identify the person of interest.