Police continue interviews in shooting incident

A 23-year-old man was in serious but stable condition Tuesday, Jan. 24, after he was unintentionally shot on Jan. 21.

Aaron Dwan was helping clean up after a trivia night fundraiser for a cancer patient held at St. Patrick’ Church in Wentzville when he realized he had been shot. Chairs and tables were being stacked and moved, and balloons were being popped, when Dwan realized he was shot and fell to the floor.

Wentzville police arrived on the scene at 11:22 p.m. on Jan. 21, and interviewed the 165 people who remained on the scene. The remaining people were moved to the sanctuary, and the room where the shooting had occurred was cordoned off. Each person and their belongings were searched for weapons and other evidence and each person gave a verbal or written statement about what they had seen and heard. The remaining people were also escorted to their vehicles, which were also searched. Police searched the entire building for hours looking for evidence.

 A citizen saw on the news what occurred and presented himself to the Wentzville Police Department around 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 22, with the assistance of the St. John Police Department. After meeting with this person and several others who came forward, detectives now believe the shooting was unintentional.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Wentzville Police Chief Lisa Harrison said the department is still interviewing.

“We still have some key people to talk to,”Harrison said.

Harrison said an investigative summary will be presented to the St. Charles County Prosecutor’s office by the end of the week. At this time it is not known if charges will be filed, she said.

Assistance with the large and active scene was provided by police departments from O’Fallon, Cottleville, Lake Saint Louis, Foristell, New Melle, and the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department.