A man pointed a rifle at his son’s head and pulled the trigger Thursday in northeast St. Charles County, a Sheriff’s deputy reported. The gun clicked and the son grabbed the rifle away, according to a court document.
The son told a St. Charles County deputy his father, Ronald Steinbruegge, was angry because he took away his father’s keys as he was about to drive while drunk.
Steinbruegge, 67, of the 600 block of Apache Drive in Portage des Sioux, was charged Friday with first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon by an intoxicated person.
A St. Charles County Sheriff’s deputy reported that the two men were working on vehicles at their farm at Weber Lake Road and Johnson Drive near Portage des Sioux.
The son told officers his father had been drinking all day and was becoming belligerent. After the two argued, Steinbruegge got in a vehicle and attempted to drive away.
The son grabbed the keys to prevent Steinbruegge from driving, and Steinbruegge punched his son in the face and back. When he couldn’t get his keys back, Steinbruegge walked into a barn and retrieved a .22 cal rifle.
He walked outside, pointed the gun at his son and squeezed the trigger, according to a court document. When his son heard the gun click, he grabbed the rifle away from his father.
Steinbruegge is being held in St. Charles County jail. Bail was set at $50,000, cash only, and he is to have no contact with his son.
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