Police investigate shootings in Charleston

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Police are investigating a shooting that injured three women Wednesday night in Charleston.

About 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, officers from the Charleston Department of Public Safety investigated a report of gunshots and a disturbance near the intersection of Vine and Sy Williams (Elm Street), Charleston DPS Director Robert Hearnes said.

Officers learned three women had been shot, Hearnes said in a news release.

The victims were taken to an area medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries, he said.

Hearnes said while police were investigating the shooting at Vine and Sy Williams, another shooting, believed to be in retaliation for the first, took place near the intersection of Cleveland and Elm streets.

"In the second shooting, a vehicle was shot several times when it slowed at an intersection," Hearnes said. "The driver of the vehicle is not cooperating with the investigation."

Officers later were advised another vehicle had been shot in the 400 block of North Johnson Street, Hearnes said.

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call 573-683-3737.