Authorities said the suspect lived in the home and children were taken into protective custody.
DELLWOOD, Mo. — A pregnant woman was in critical condition and her mother was hospitalized after a shooting inside a Dellwood home Friday night, authorities said. Police arrested a 67-year-old man at the scene and later filed multiple felony charges, saying children were present when the violence erupted.
Investigators with the North County Police Cooperative described the case as a double shooting in a north St. Louis County neighborhood and said the suspected gunman lived with the victims. The incident drew extra concern from police and neighbors because three juveniles were taken into protective custody and the younger victim, 37, was pregnant, leaving doctors and detectives to track both the medical crisis and the criminal case.
Officers were dispatched about 7:20 p.m. Fri., Feb. 6, to the 10400 block of Olney Drive, where they found two women had been shot, police said. The 37-year-old pregnant woman was listed in critical and unstable condition, and the 61-year-old woman was listed in stable condition, authorities said. Both were taken to a hospital. Police said a 67-year-old suspect was taken into custody at the scene, and three juveniles were placed in protective custody while officers secured the home and began the initial investigation.
On Saturday, authorities identified the suspect as Leonard Davies, 67, and said he was charged with multiple counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, plus endangering the welfare of a child and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Police said the older victim was Davies’ sister and the younger victim was his niece, describing a family household that included the younger woman’s three children. Officials did not say what prompted the shooting, whether the gunfire followed an argument, or how long officers were on the scene before making the arrest.
Investigators have not released the victims’ names, and they have not provided information about the unborn child’s condition. Police also did not say whether the three juveniles taken into protective custody were the younger woman’s children, though the later report said she lived in the home with three kids. In cases involving minors, agencies often limit public details while family court or child welfare officials decide short-term placement and safety planning. Police did not say whether any child witnessed the shooting or whether any child called 911.
The charges filed in the case signal prosecutors believe the shooting caused or attempted to cause serious injuries and involved a weapon, though authorities did not publicly describe the firearm. The felon-in-possession count indicates investigators believe Davies was barred from having a gun under Missouri and federal law because of a previous felony conviction, but the report did not describe his prior case history. Police and prosecutors also did not say whether Davies surrendered peacefully or whether officers had to force entry to arrest him.
Residents near Olney Drive said the street is usually calm, and they described the shooting as a jarring break from the normal rhythm of a small neighborhood. Some neighbors said they had seen the family around and thought of the accused man as approachable. Others said they were less surprised by conflict inside a shared home, but still stunned that it ended in gunfire and injuries. One neighbor, Marlon Lawson, said the shooting was “very shocking” and “unbelievable,” explaining that he did not expect it in what he called a quiet neighborhood.
Domestic violence advocates and police agencies often note that disputes inside a home can become deadly quickly, especially when firearms are accessible. Investigators did not say whether the victims had sought protective orders or whether police had been called to the address before, and the report did not mention prior incidents. Still, the endangering-the-welfare charge underscores what officers often emphasize in such cases: children may be physically harmed even when they are not the intended targets, and they can be left without stable care in the immediate aftermath of an arrest.
Next steps in the criminal process typically include a first court appearance, bond decisions, and formal filings that outline probable cause. Authorities did not announce a scheduled hearing date, and it was not immediately clear whether Davies had an attorney who could respond to the allegations. Detectives are expected to continue collecting witness statements, documenting the scene, and following medical updates that could affect the severity of the case. If the pregnant woman’s condition changes, prosecutors can reassess charges based on the evidence and the extent of injuries.
In Dellwood, the shooting left neighbors watching patrol cars come and go and trying to reconcile what happened on a street where people often know one another. Residents described a night of sirens and police tape, followed by the quieter morning reality of an empty driveway and worried conversations on porches. Lawson said the case left people in the area unsettled because it struck close to home and involved relatives living under the same roof.
As of Sunday, Feb. 8, Davies remained charged and the investigation was continuing, with the pregnant woman still listed in critical condition and the older woman listed as stable. Police have not said when they will release additional details about what led to the shooting.
Author note: Last updated February 8, 2026.