Police: Man shoots ex-girlfriend in hand, just misses her head

An East St. Louis man was charged Thursday with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery with a firearm after police said he shot his ex-girlfriend.

Police said Frank J. Spraggins III, 34, shot the woman's right hand early Tuesday morning while they were sitting in a car at the First Western Inn in Caseyville, officer Woodrow Hall said.

"She blocks it with her hand," Caseyville Police Chief J.D. Roth said. "He shoots her through the hand with a .45 pistol -- just missed her head, hit the headrest."

Spraggins took the woman to a hospital, where hospital staff became suspicious and notified East St. Louis police. Caseyville officers took him into custody at about 3 a.m.

The woman is in stable condition. Spraggins is being held at the St. Clair County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.