CENTRALIA, IL — Centralia police are investigating an early morning shooting in the 100 block of Clinmar Street that resulted in a 33-year-old Caseyville man going to a Breese hospital for treatment of a shotgun wound to the leg.

According to Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson, officers responded around 12:23 a.m. to a report of a shooting in the area of 100 Clinmar Street. Upon their arrival, officers determined that William Woods had been shot in the leg with a shotgun.

Woods had fled the scene of the shooting and was being transported to a hospital in Breese by the three subjects that accompanied him to Centralia. Woods was then transported to a hospital in St Louis and released later the same morning as his injuries were not life-threatening.

Officer subsequently took in eight subjects who resided at the residence where this occurred into temporary custody. They were all questioned and later released. Detectives went to the Woods’ address in Caseyville after it had been determined he had been released from the St Louis hospital. Officers attempted to interview Woods but he reportedly refused to cooperate and would not provide officers any details relating to the events.

Dodson says the address on Clinmar Street is a known location for drug activity, and it is suspected Woods and the subjects who accompanied him to Centralia were involved in a drug transaction that resulted in Woods being robbed at gunpoint and shot.

This incident is still under investigation and the Department is still seeking additional subjects who fled the scene. If anyone has any additional information regarding the events they are asked to contact the Centralia Police Department Investigations.