Woman shot in head after drug deal goes bad in Rolla

On Wednesday, officers responded to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department due to a 21-year-old woman, who had been transported to the hospital by private vehicle, with a single gunshot wound to her head.

The victim was immediately airlifted to the University of Missouri Medical Center.

The shooting occurred on Highway 72 near Osage Drive. As a result of the follow-up investigation conducted by the Rolla Police Department’s Division of Criminal Investigations Unit, it was discovered that the shooting happened after an illegal narcotics transaction had gone bad.

The victim and an associate were being chased by another vehicle. During the chase, an occupant from the chasing vehicle began firing a handgun at the victim’s vehicle, which resulted in the victim being shot in the head.

Steven T. Debord, 43, of St. James, and Joseph L. Vance, 37, of Rolla were both arrested on the charges of first degree assault, armed criminal action and distribution of a controlled substance.