Crime & Safety

Early Morning Shooting in Wentzville

Victim in Serious Condition

A St. Charles man was shot early this morning near Wentzville.

According to the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department, the shooting occurred before 5 a.m. this morning.

"At 5:16 a.m. we received a call to come to in Lake St. Louis," said Lt. Craig McGuire. "The call was in response to a gun shot victim."

Find out what's happening in Wentzvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McGuire said when deputies arrived on the scene the victim was coherent and could speak with authorities. 

The victim told deputies he and his girlfriend, along with another male friend, were out Christmas shopping in the early morning hours. They returned to the girlfriend's home in the 400 block of Guthrie. As they pulled into the home's long driveway, the woman's husband pulled a gun on the pickup truck carrying the trio.

Find out what's happening in Wentzvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McGuire said the victim, a 42-year-old man from the 2300 block of Fox Creek, was shot through the window. He was hit in the back of the head/side of the face as the pickup truck was pulling away. The victim was in the passenger seat.

The victim's male friend was behind the wheel and his girlfriend was sitting between the two. No one else was injured in the incident.

The woman's husband, a 44-year-old from the 400 block of Guthrie Road, is currently in custody at the St. Charles County Jail. According to McGuire, he has given statement implicating himself in the shooting.

"Everybody knows everybody here," McGuire said. "There was no question about anyone's identity." 

The Sheriff's Office is not releasing names pending an official warrant. McGuire said he expects the warrant to be issued late this afternoon.

"We have 24 hours," he said. 

Other news outlets have identified the victim as Dennis Vehlewald. 

McGuire said the victim was transferred to a hospital in the St. Louis area. He termed his condition serious, but not life-threatening. 

More information will be posted on Wentzville Patch as it becomes available.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Wentzville