UPDATED 9:30 p.m. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2012

WSIL- New details are surfacing about a violent domestic dispute that played out Monday across Williamson and Franklin Counties.

The wife of Dennis Hahn Junior, Cindy Hahn, said her husband was acting in self defense Monday.

She did not want to go on camera, but told News 3 her husband had no choice but to shoot his father.

"My two children were in the basement, clinging to me...then we heard the gun shots."

That's what Cindy Hahn said was happening inside her home late Monday morning.

Moments earlier, police said her father-in-law, Dennis Hahn Senior, had run over Cindy's sister-in-law, Mary Hallerman. And Hallerman was in critical condition.

Cindy said her husband, Dennis Hahn Junior, got a call from his brother. He said Hahn senior was on his way over to kill Hahn Junior, Cindy, and their two children.

"We were terrified," Hahn said.

After the phone call, Cindy called 9-1-1 and took her two children into their basement. She said her husband grabbed his gun. When she heard shots fired outside, she wasn't sure who was doing the shooting. And she worried her father-in-law was coming to get the rest of the family.

But police said Hahn Junior shot his father. He was brought in for questioning and later arrested-- tentatively charged with aggravated battery with a firearm.

Hahn said her father-in-law was upset about a deck her husband was building outside their house. But she has no idea why he would run over her sister-in-law.

UPDATED 5:15 p.m. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2012

WSIL -- Franklin County authorities say Dennis Hahn, Jr. is in custody charged with aggravated battery with a firearm.


UPDATED 4:15 p.m. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2012

WSIL -- Authorities have released more information about a Monday morning domestic dispute and shooting.

Below is the full press release from the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.

Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick reports that on 2/20/12 at approximately 10:15am, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call indicating that a female had been hit by a vehicle and shots had been fired at 424 Gosnell Rd., which is located in Williamson County just south of Hurst.

It was determined that Dennis J. Hahn, age 55, of Royalton, had rammed a gate across the driveway, continued along the driveway and hit a vehicle parked at the residence. Dennis Hahn then exited the pickup truck he was driving and fired 5 to 6 rounds from a large caliber handgun into the residence while the residence was occupied. No one was injured from the rounds being fired.

Dennis Hahn then went to the front door and started beating on the door with handgun. James Halleran, age 27, 424 Gosnell Rd., who is Hahn's son-in-law, opened the door. Hahn then struck Halleran in the forehead with the barrel of the gun, causing injury to Halleran. James Halleran refused treatment at the scene.

Dennis Hahn then got back into the truck he was driving. At this time, Hahn's daughter, Mary Halleran, 33, 424 Gosnell Rd., came outside of the residence. Dennis Hahn then struck his daughter with the truck, causing life-threatening injuries. Dennis Hahn then fled the scene in the truck.

Dennis Hahn then drove to his residence near Royalton, which is in Franklin County. Hahn apparently exited the truck he was driving after arriving at the residence. Apparently Hahn's wife, Betty Hahn, age 57, of Royalton, had been made aware of what had happened at the daughter's residence and was able to get into the same truck that her husband had just exited and drove the truck back to the Gosnell Road address in Williamson County.

Apparently Dennis Hahn was shot by one of the sons a short time after exiting the truck. Hahn was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot injury. Two weapons have been recovered by Franklin County. Details of the Franklin County incident are being investigated by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

Mary Halleran has been airlifted to a St. Louis hospital with life-threatening injuries. Dennis Hahn is undergoing surgery at a local hospital for the gunshot wound. The investigation continues in both counties. No arrests have been made at this time.


WSIL -- Authorities are investigating a connection between a domestic disturbance in Williamson County and a shooting in Franklin County.

Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick says his office was called to the Hurst/Bush area Monday morning for a domestic disturbance with a woman injured. Vick says the woman had been ran over by a vehicle. She was taken from the scene by ambulance.

Vick tells News 3 the investigation then moved to Franklin County.

Trooper David Sneed with Illinois State Police says his department was called in just before 10:30 a.m. Monday to assist the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at a residence in Royalton. Neighbors tell News 3 they heard two or three gunshots before authorities arrived at the home on Chamness Road.

Look for more on this story tonight on News 3.