In a shocking incident that unfolded last week in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, 37-year-old Joseph Liszewski stands accused of fatally shooting his father, Edward Liszewski, 72, with a shotgun. He then stole the victim’s credit cards, which he took to a gambling session at the nearby Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri.
The tragic event has left the local area in shock, as investigators pieced together text messages, casino security footage, and crime scene evidence to file a report.
Liszewski is now in jail on a $1 million bond after being arrested at the scene of the murder upon his return from the casino.
Conflicting Accounts
Upon the discovery of the crime scene, Liszewski initially told officers that his father had accidentally injured himself by stepping on a shotgun.
However, as investigations progressed, he later admitted to shooting his father in the jaw after a heated altercation.
The confrontation reportedly began around midnight on Thursday. Liszewski was then captured on camera visiting the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri hours later around 5:30 a.m.
Prosecutors have secured video footage from Ameristar Casino showing Liszewski on the premises.
Liszewski sent a text message to a female friend hours after his casino visit, indicating he had done something “terrible” for her. It was this recipient who decided to check on the residence the next day. She then discovered the gruesome scene and made the emergency call.
Blood and Guns
There were “blood and guns all over the place,” said the witness statement in the police report.
Upon arrival at the residence on Rue Grand Drive at around 1.30 p.m., police spoke to Liszewski on the porch. “My dad hurt himself,” he apparently told police.
However, upon entry, police discovered his deceased father, who had been moved upstairs from the kitchen of the house.
Liszewski was arrested and charged the next day with first-degree murder after admitting the shooting while in custody.
Court records shed light on Liszewski’s previous legal issues, including a guilty plea for habitual drunken driving charges. Alongside the murder charge, he now faces additional charges for unlawful possession of a firearm because of his past convictions.
The incident has left many in the community grappling with questions about the circumstances leading up to the tragic event. It is also certainly not a good look for the casino.
The Ameristar St. Charles was also involved in a deadly criminal case earlier in 2023. In January, a Missouri man was sentenced to 35 years for selling batches the opioid fentanyl from the casino premises.
In a positive news story for Missouri casinos this week, Bally’s Corporation announced the completion of the $40 million upgrade to its Bally’s Kansas City property. It promises “enhanced dining and gaming experiences,” including 200 new games and several new restaurants and bars.
