A Belle man reportedly shot in the abdomen early Aug. 19 south of Bland has undergone surgery at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia and was expected to survive, according to Gasconade County Sheriff Mark A. Williams.

Williams said Tuesday he was not releasing additional information, including the man’s name, pending the completion of his department’s investigation and a review by the county’s prosecuting attorney.

In a release issued Tuesday morning, Williams reports that on Aug. 19, “around 7 a.m. Gasconade County Central Communications received a 911 call indicating a male subject had been shot near Highway B and Baxter Road outside of Bland.”

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene and “determined a 32-year-old Belle man had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen.”    

The man was airlifted to University Hospital “where he underwent surgery and is expected to survive. The investigation continues and no further information will be released at this time,” the release concluded.

“It’s still and open investigation,” Williams told The Gasconade County Republican prior to issuing the release. “It should be closed before too awfully long.”

He said his department still had one interview to conduct before the case was finalized and could be sent to the prosecuting attorney for review.

He said the victim was shot once in the abdomen.

“It’s not really one of those cut and dried cases,” he said, but did not elaborate.