Authorities capture shooting suspect in Cole County

Jerry Dean Gill
Jerry Dean Gill

The Cole County Sheriff's Department on Saturday apprehended the Holts Summit man accused of shooting a woman Monday at County Park.

Jerry Dean Gill, 29, was captured shortly after 9 p.m. when he came out of the woods in the 4900 block of Loesch Road. Authorities say he had a loaded shotgun and several knives on him when he was arrested.

Gill is accused of shooting a woman in County Park about 3:45 p.m. Monday. He is charged with two counts of second-degree domestic assault and one count each of armed criminal action and false imprisonment. The charges stem from an altercation others witnessed at the park.

The victim told investigators Gill was a former boyfriend who had held her captive in his car since the previous Saturday afternoon. Gill and his victim reportedly exited their vehicle at the park, engaged in a shouting match and then Gill shot the woman once in the right forearm.

Witnesses allege he threatened to kill the woman and fired his weapon a second time at her. That shot missed its mark, and Gill fled the scene. The woman was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries in Columbia.

On Wednesday, Gill allegedly stole a utility vehicle at gunpoint from a resident south of St. Martins while he was on the run.

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Resident reports shooting suspect steals vehicle at gunpoint