Woman shot during fireworks dispute speaks out
By Stephanie Baumer
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ST. LOUIS COUNTY (KCTV, KSMO) — Three people were shot in South County by a man who fired a gun into a group that was shooting fireworks around 1:30 a.m. Monday, according to police.
Officers from the South County Precinct were called to the intersection of Gentry and Goetz Avenue for fireworks, and when they arrived, two women and a boy were found shot. Police said 27-year-old Donald Meek approached the group, which included the three victims and several witnesses, and got into an argument, which turned physical.
“The next thing you know the guy just started getting out his gun,” said a woman who asked News 4 not to identify her. “I was shot in my chest and grazed in my stomach, my sister-in-law was shot in her foot and my nephew was shot in his shin.”
The ages of the victims are 40, 29 and 9, according to police. The trio were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said, though only one was released. The woman said her sister-in-law will need surgery. She is not sure when her nephew will be released from the hospital.
After the shooting, Meek allegedly barricaded himself inside of his home in the 300 block of Goetz Avenue. Around 5:30 a.m. he was taken into custody, and officers said they found his handgun in the backyard.
“I didn’t expect any of this to happen. I can’t believe this happened. Out of everything, I’m glad everyone is all alive,” the victim said.
A neighbor who lives down the street said he called the cops because of the noise but did not realize it had escalated to a shooting.
“Horrific is the only word that I have to describe this. they have children, I don’t have them, but these neighbors all have children. We’re fearful of this corner for the future,” said neighbor Paul Lia.
Meek was charged with three counts of second-degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action. He’s being held on a $200,000 cash-only bond.
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