A 57-year-old man has so far been charged with first-degree domestic assault and is being held without bond after officers from several Mid-Missouri law enforcement agencies and Missouri Highway Patrol SWAT responded to a violent man armed with a gun inside a home near the Lake of the Ozarks.
A woman found unconscious at the scene later died.
Miller County Sheriff's Office deputies responded at 3:53 a.m. Saturday to a home on Emery Road in Rocky Mount after a 911 call reporting an adult man inside the home was armed and threatening to kill a woman, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Deputies entered the home through an open door to look for possible victims and encountered Terry Ewens, 57, who allegedly was armed with a gun and threatening to shoot the deputies.
No shots were fired by anyone, but as the deputies took cover, they found an unconscious 71-year-old woman and carried her outside.
A second woman, 51, was able to escape through a garage.
While both women were taken to a hospital by EMS, further investigation revealed an 82-year-old man was still inside the home with the suspect.
More officers from the Miller County Sheriff's Office, Lake Ozark Police Department, Camden County Sheriff's Office and Missouri Highway Patrol responded to assist and establish a perimeter on land and water around the home.
Highway Patrol SWAT officers from Troop F and crisis intervention negotiators also responded. The negotiators made contact with the suspect by phone, but at 12:20 p.m., they "heard indications" the elderly man inside the home was being assaulted.
SWAT officers entered the home, confirmed the suspect was actively assaulting the victim and "used physical force to take him into custody."
The elderly victim was taken to Lake Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect had minor injuries.
Officers found several guns in the home.
The 71-year-old woman initially found unconscious was pronounced dead at 4:59 a.m. Saturday. An autopsy is planned to determine the cause of her death.
The 51-year-old woman was listed in stable condition.
All the victims are related and the suspect is a family acquaintance.
The Miller County Sheriff's Office said additional charges are pending for Ewens. The sheriff's office is continuing to investigate, and said more information would be released as the investigation progresses.