A 34-year-old Fenton man is facing serious charges after allegedly shooting another man in the head at a home in House Springs, Missouri, then hiding in nearby woods before giving himself up to deputies. The shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 5000 block of Deana Drive, and the wounded man was rushed to a hospital.
According to fox2now.com, deputies arrived to find an adult man with a gunshot wound and moved him to safety before he was taken to the hospital. The outlet reported his injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening, while a separate report from KMOV described him as in stable condition. The man told investigators that Matthew Higgins was the one who shot him.
Suspect Fled Into the Woods Before Surrendering
Higgins reportedly ran into a wooded area near the home immediately after the shooting. The station's report states he later emerged from the woods while police were still at the scene and surrendered without further incident.
Higgins was charged with first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action, per the same account. He is currently held without bond, and officials noted he has a prior conviction for armed criminal action.
How Missouri Law Defines the Charge
Under Missouri law, a person commits first-degree domestic assault if they attempt to kill or knowingly cause or attempt to cause great bodily harm to a domestic victim, according to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes. FOX2 reported Thursday morning that investigators were applying for charges and prosecutors had not yet issued them. KMOV's Friday, October 16, report indicates charges were ultimately filed against Higgins.
Details about what led up to the shooting, including a possible motive, have not been released. The relationship between Higgins and the wounded man has also not been disclosed in official accounts of the case.
