Juvenile Shot in Leg With a Shotgun, 18-Year-Old in Custody

Franklin County Sheriff's deputies were investigating a shooting on Barton Road east of St. Clair that occurred on Wednesday afternoon.

Sgt. Travis Blankenship told The Missourian at the scene that deputies still were doing preliminary investigation work, but did confirm that one man was shot by another at a residence in the 2800 block of Barton Road.

A press release from Sheriff Gary Toelke released shortly thereafter stated that a 17-year-old man was shot in the leg and was lying on the ground in the front yard of the residence when deputies arrived. A second subject, identified as an 18-year-old white male who lives at the residence, came out of the home and told deputies he had shot the subject.

Blankenship said the 18-year-old man immediately was detained.

The wounded man, shot in the upper leg, was transported to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Blankenship and Toelke said they did not know the condition of the man who was shot.

Deputies and St. Clair Fire District and ambulance crews were dispatched to Barton Road at 1:33 p.m. Wednesday for a peace disturbance. The caller reported that a subject was tearing up the inside of his residence.

Toelke said information at the preliminary point of the investigation indicated that the 17-year old victim had been staying at the residence of the 18-year old for the past few days. It was reported that the younger man originally is from the Owensville area.

The 18-year old lives with his father, who was not home at the time of the shooting.

An argument apparently began between the two teenagers, at which time the 17-year old was shot in the leg with a .12-gauge shotgun by the 18-year old.

The 18-year old has been taken into custody for investigation of assault.

Toelke said further investigation is being conducted.

For more information, see the Weekend Missourian.