Acclaimed St. Louis Restaurateur Shot Girlfriend in Neck at Ameristar Casino, Cops Say

A 50-year-old man suspected of shooting his 27-year-old girlfriend in the neck at the in St. Louis, Mo., in the early hours of Saturday morning has been identified as the owner of one of the city’s top restaurants.

Calvin Hsien Kuang Koong is charged with first-degree domestic assault, kidnapping, and armed criminal action in connection with the shooting. He is the chef-owner of Tai Ke Shabu Shabu, a Taiwanese restaurant that was voted the second-best eating establishment in the city by Sauce Magazine in 2021.

The victim, a Malaysian national, suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack and underwent emergency surgery, St. Charles police Lt. Susan Shields said Tuesday. The victim remains in a critical condition but was alert, although not yet talking, Shields added.

Security video from the casino’s parking garage captured the couple sitting in Koong’s car on the second level at about 2:30 a.m., with the victim in the driver s seat.

The video shows the victim open the driver’s door in an attempt to leave before Koong pulled her back inside, shutting the door behind her, according to police. Koong then climbed into the driver s seat while the woman moved to the back of the car. At some point during this brief exchange, a shot was fired.

The victim opened a back door and tried to run toward the entrance to the casino. She collapsed before she made it.

This young lady runs up, and she has blood all over her. She runs up and says, Help. Help. I ve been shot, witness Diane Lewis told local NBC affiliate KSDK. […] When she came up, blood was running down her neck and everywhere. I put pressure on her neck.”

Koong was unable to drive away because the victim had the keys, so he fled on foot, police said. The restaurateur jumped over a concrete barrier in the parking lot before being tackled by casino security.

“I shot her,” Koong is alleged to have told the security guard, according to court documents.

Koong later told police that the gun was in the side door compartment. He pulled it out and tried to put it on the console, but the victim suddenly panicked and grabbed it. Koong then shot her, and she got out of the car and ran, police said. He also claimed he couldn’t remember details because he was drunk.

Koong is being held on a $500K cash-only bond. Prosecutors argued he’s a flight risk because he’s a wealthy businessman who regularly travels to Taiwan.