A suspect is in custody after a shooting Tuesday at Gravois Bluffs, police said.
A man has been charged with first-degree assault for a shooting at Gravois Bluffs that left the victim in critical condition.
St. Louis County prosecutors on Wednesday charged Kenneth Dotson Jr., 20, of the 7500 block of Liberty Avenue in University City, 63130, with one count of first-degree assault and one count of armed criminal action for the shooting Tuesday, Dec. 22. Dotson is being held on $125,000 cash-only bond.
Prosecutors note that charges are only an accusation, and the accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Officers from the Fenton Precinct of the St. Louis County Police Department responded to Gravois Bluffs Boulevard and Highway 141 after a call for service on a shooting at roughly 12:32 p.m. Tuesday.
Officers found a man, 18 years old, at the scene bleeding from a gunshot wound to the torso just below the neck, which police later specified involved an injury to the spinal cord. He was taken to a local hospital for lifesaving treatment and is still in critical condition.
Police said that Dotson was at the scene and admitted to police that he fired the gun and was arrested.
After Dotson was told of his Miranda rights, police said, he told police that he and the victim were in a car when an altercation broke out between Dotson and another person inside the car, who was not the eventual shooting victim. Police did not specify how many people were in the car other than “several others.”
Dotson and the person he was arguing with began fighting over a gun that Dotson was taking out of his satchel. During the argument, according to the account police said that Dotson gave, Dotson declared his intention to shoot the other person.
The victim got out of the car and came around to where Dotson and the other person were fighting to try and break up the altercation. As the victim opened the door, the gun went off, shooting the victim.
The bullet lodged in the victim’s spinal cord, causing critical injuries, police said.
Police retrieved the gun and the satchel.
If anyone has any information on the shooting, police are asking them to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak to investigators regarding the incident.
To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371TIPS(8477) if you have any information regarding the incident.
