POTOSI, Missouri — A young Missouri man is behind bars after police say he punched his pregnant girlfriend repeatedly in the stomach, threatened to kill their unborn baby, and then shot her in the back.
Nicholas Geary, a Potosi resident born in 2006, was arrested following what the Washington County Sheriff’s Office described as a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend.
What Police Say Happened
According to investigators, the violence did not start on the day of the shooting.
In the days before the attack, Geary had allegedly threatened to shoot his girlfriend in the stomach because she was pregnant. On the day of the incident, he struck her in the stomach before pulling out a .380 pistol and firing multiple rounds at her — hitting her in the back.
The victim was rushed to a local hospital and treated for her gunshot wound. Investigators say the bullet entered and exited through her back.
After the shooting, Geary called 911 and told dispatchers he fired in self-defense — claiming his girlfriend had gotten out of a truck and was “known to carry knives.”
Why Charges Were Filed Even Without Victim’s Cooperation
The victim told police she did not want to pursue charges.
But investigators pushed forward anyway. Due to the “escalating violence” between the couple and the safety of her unborn child, authorities determined charges were necessary regardless of her wishes.
Geary, who has no prior criminal history, now faces attempted murder, domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action. He is currently held at the Washington County Jail without bond.
What do you think about cases like this where victims ask police not to pursue charges? Share your thoughts in the comments.
