HIGHLAND — An alleged intruder was hospitalized with gunshot wounds after apparently pushing into a home and assaulting two women.

The 33-year-old man is accused of forcing his way into an apartment in the 2600 block of Eagle Way Drive at about 3:30 a.m. The apartment building was home to two sisters, Debi Keeney and Donna Carlyle.

The man allegedly attacked the women while demanding money, and Keeney shot him with a small-caliber derringer-style revolver.

Keeney told police she was defending the life of her sister and had pleaded multiple times for the man to stop his assault and leave the apartment before she fired the gun.

"All I could see was Donna's face going blue, like her life was being choked out of her," Keeney, 55, said in an interview Sunday. "He had her trapped like a rat."

The man was hit twice and taken to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for treatment, according to Sgt. Aric Steinbeck with the Highland Police Department.

Steinbeck said they do not know the man's current condition. His name is not being released because he has not yet been charged with a crime.

However, Steinbeck confirmed that Highland police have had contact with the man in the past, though not in a criminal capacity.

There was no indication that the man knew Keeney and Carlyle, Steinbeck said. Keeney said in an interview that she did not know him.

"We were both saying we don't have any money," she said. "If we would have had any money, we would have given it to him."

Steinbeck would not speculated whether charges will be brought, but said the investigation is ongoing. Any further decisions will be made after detectives are able to interview the man, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact reporter Elizabeth Donald at edonald@bnd.com or 239-2501.

Contact reporter Elizabeth Donald at edonald@bnd.com or 239-2501.