Deputies: Woman, son fought off gunman in home near SGF

Deputies say a Republic man used an ax to break into a woman's apartment, then threatened her with a gun and fired a round inside the home.

Steven St. James, 71, was charged Tuesday with assault, burglary and armed criminal action after he allegedly threatened a woman and her teenage son over the weekend.

The woman and her son were able to disarm St. James, and no one was injured in the incident, according to court documents.

According to a probable cause statement, Greene County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Park Place Apartments on Farm Road 164 just west of the Springfield city limits on Sunday morning for reports of an argument followed by a gunshot.

When deputies arrived at the apartment, they found damage to the sliding glass door. Furniture and plants were strewn across the living room floor, indicating an altercation had occurred, according to the statement.

St. James was sitting on the floor in the apartment when deputies arrived and made contact with the victims, the statement says.

The woman told deputies St. James had broken into the home and threatened her with a gun, saying "Today is the day I am going to die, and you're going with me," according to the statement.

The woman said she was able to pin St. James' hand against the wall, at which time he fired one shot, according to the statement.

The woman's son then came out of his bedroom to help, and the victims were able to get the gun away from St. James and detain him until deputies arrived, the statement says.

St. James allegedly bit the teenager in the arm during the altercation.

In an interview with authorities, St. James said his intention was to kill himself, not the woman or her son, according to the statement.

St. James told authorities he had been involved in a romantic relationship with the woman, but the woman said they were just friends, according to the statement.

A warrant has been issued for St. James' arrest. He does not have an attorney listed for this case.