Police seek fugitive gunman after sexual assault and shoot at Catholic store in suburban Saint Louis

Police in the suburbs of St. Louis are looking for an armed man who has entered a religious material store, sexually assaulted at least one woman and shot a woman to the head. The gunshot victim was in critical condition in a hospital. (Google)

An armed man who went to a Catholic supply store in the suburbs of St. Louis, sexually assaulted at least one woman and shot a woman in the head is wanted by police Monday night.

Police are looking for a white man of about 5 feet 7 feet with heavy construction and said that he should be considered armed and dangerous, as reported by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The shooting took place around 3:15 pm. in a Catholic supply store in St. Louis, in western St. Louis County, near the town of Ballwin.

The gunman entered the store and sexually assaulted at least one woman. Police spokesman Shaun McGuire said he could not confirm media reports that more than one woman was assaulted. The gunshot victim was in critical condition in a hospital, the authorities said.

The reason the store was targeted was unclear and McGuire did not know if his religious affiliation was a factor.

Catholic Supply St. Louis Inc. operates three stores specializing in church supplies for parishes as well as for Catholics. The company's website also announced the publication of national catalogs of supplies.

"Our hearts go to the victims of this terrible Catholic Supply tragedy," said St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson in a statement. "We pray for these victims, especially the victim in critical condition right now."

The authorities stated that the woman who had been shot did not know the suspect.

"Obviously, this adds to the intensity of our research," said McGuire.

The shooting took place in a shopping center located in an area rich about 25 miles west of St. Louis, along Manchester Road, one of the most congested roads in the region.

McGuire said the high volume of traffic made the suspect's search more difficult.

"Obviously, someone could mix quite easily," he said.

Associated Press contributed to this report.