Incident Overview
On Friday, December 13, 2025, just before midnight, a shooting occurred at Holeshots Saloon, a bar located in the 7400 block of State Route 30 (Highway 30) in Dittmer, Jefferson County, Missouri. The incident left two men in critical condition with gunshot wounds.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the shooting stemmed from an argument inside the bar. A man later identified as Christopher Masson, 24, of Cedar Hill, Missouri, became involved in an altercation with another patron. Court documents indicate the dispute began over a simple comment—someone complimented Thomas Huddleston on his jacket, which angered Masson.
Following the initial confrontation, Masson left the bar but returned approximately 30 minutes later. According to investigators, he retrieved a firearm from his vehicle in the parking lot and re-entered the establishment. Masson then opened fire, striking Huddleston three times. A second victim, Travis Forshee, 53, of Dittmer, was also wounded when a bullet passed through Huddleston and struck him.
Both victims were transported to area hospitals in critical condition. Huddleston, a 30-year-old combat veteran from Fletcher, Missouri, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Forshee, a 53-year-old Dittmer resident, was injured by the same projectile that struck Huddleston.
A Combat Veteran Wounded
Thomas Huddleston, 30, is a military combat veteran from Fletcher, Missouri. According to family and friends, Huddleston was simply enjoying an evening out when the senseless act of violence occurred. He was shot three times after an altercation that began over a compliment about his jacket.
Travis Forshee, 53, a local Dittmer resident, was struck by a bullet that passed through Huddleston. Both men remain in critical condition as their families await updates on their recovery.
Charges Filed - December 2025
Christopher Masson, 24, of Cedar Hill, Missouri, has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the shooting. Masson is being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail.
Location & Context
Holeshots Saloon is located at 7488 Highway 30 in Dittmer, a small unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Missouri, approximately 35 miles southwest of St. Louis. The bar is situated along State Route 30, a rural highway that runs through Jefferson County.
The incident occurred late on a Friday night, a typically busy time for bar establishments. The shooting unfolded after the suspect left the premises following an initial argument, then returned approximately 30 minutes later armed with a firearm retrieved from his vehicle in the parking lot.
Incident Timeline
Initial Altercation: An argument erupts inside Holeshots Saloon after someone compliments Thomas Huddleston's jacket, angering Christopher Masson.
Suspect Leaves: Masson departs the bar following the confrontation.
30 Minutes Later: Masson returns to the bar, retrieves a firearm from his vehicle in the parking lot.
Just Before Midnight: Masson re-enters the bar and opens fire, shooting Huddleston three times. A bullet passes through Huddleston and strikes Forshee.
Bar & Tavern Security Standards
Bars and taverns serving alcohol face unique security challenges due to the effects of alcohol consumption on patron behavior, late operating hours, and the potential for interpersonal conflicts. Industry security experts and licensing authorities have identified several measures commonly recommended for these establishments:
Security Personnel
Trained security staff or bouncers who can monitor patron behavior, de-escalate conflicts before they become violent, and prevent individuals who have been ejected from re-entering the premises.
Surveillance Systems
Security cameras should be positioned to monitor the interior, entrances, exits, and parking areas. Quality footage with adequate retention periods aids in incident documentation and investigations.
Parking Lot Safety
Adequate lighting and monitoring of parking areas is essential, as many bar-related violent incidents occur in or involve vehicles in parking lots. Periodic security checks of the parking area can deter criminal activity.
Conflict Management
Staff training in conflict de-escalation techniques, recognizing signs of escalating aggression, and protocols for when to involve security or law enforcement.
Re-entry Prevention
Policies and procedures to prevent individuals who have been asked to leave or who have been involved in altercations from re-entering the establishment, particularly during the same evening.
Responsible Alcohol Service
Training staff to recognize signs of intoxication and refuse service to visibly intoxicated patrons, as required by Missouri's dram shop laws and liquor licensing regulations.
Potential Negligent Security Considerations
Under Missouri law, property owners and businesses that serve alcohol have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises. This duty may extend to implementing security measures to protect patrons from foreseeable criminal acts, particularly in establishments where alcohol consumption may increase the risk of violent behavior.
Several factors may warrant examination regarding this incident:
1 Security Personnel
Whether the establishment employed security personnel or trained staff who could have intervened during the initial altercation, prevented the suspect from re-entering after leaving, or monitored the parking lot for concerning behavior.
2 Parking Lot Safety
The suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle in the parking lot before returning to the bar. Questions may arise regarding parking lot surveillance, lighting, and whether security measures could have detected the suspect arming himself before re-entering the establishment.
3 Patron Management & Re-entry
The suspect left the bar following an argument, then returned 30 minutes later to commit the shooting. Whether policies and procedures existed to prevent an individual involved in an altercation from re-entering the premises, and whether staff were aware of the earlier confrontation, are relevant considerations.
4 Alcohol Service Practices
Bars have a duty under Missouri law to serve alcohol responsibly. Whether the establishment's alcohol service practices contributed to the escalation of the initial argument or the suspect's subsequent actions may be relevant to determining liability.
5 Foreseeability
The 30-minute gap between the initial altercation and the shooting raises questions about whether the establishment had notice of a potentially dangerous situation. When a patron leaves following a heated argument, bar security protocols often call for heightened vigilance regarding potential return with weapons or accomplices.
Missouri Dram Shop & Premises Liability
Missouri's dram shop law (RSMo § 537.053) allows victims to pursue claims against establishments that serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons who subsequently cause injury. Additionally, under Missouri premises liability law, bars and taverns may be held liable for negligent security if they fail to implement reasonable measures to protect patrons from foreseeable criminal acts on their premises. The fact that the suspect left and returned with a weapon after an altercation may be significant in evaluating whether the bar had notice of a potential threat.