(KMOV/CNN) - A quadruple murder suspect in Missouri had his first court appearance Monday.
Richard Emery is facing 15-counts after police say he gunned down his girlfriend and three of her family members Friday.
Emery is also accused of stabbing and injuring another woman while he was running from officers.
The community is stunned something like that could happen in their town.
"You don't want to read about something bad that happened if your neighborhood in the New York Daily News," said Colin Wellienkamp, St. Charles resident.
Colin Wellienkamp lives next door to the home where police where were called for a stabbing after four people were fatally shot nearby.
Police say the victim said the suspect approached her, said I need to get out of here and attempted to take her car.
She told police he then stabbed her multiple times.
She was in the hospital in critical but stable condition.
“It's just a very tragic very sobering situation to be going through especially this time of year," said Wellienkamp.
Wellienkamp says he's still in shock that something like this happened so close to home.
Prosecutors say Emery shot and killed Kate Kasten, her children Johnathon and Zoe, and her mother Jane Moeckel.
Emery and Kasten had been dating for over a year.
Flowers, balloons and teddy bears have all been placed outside the home where they were killed.
"You're alarmed because you don't run into that. You don't run into that in this area ever,” said Wellienkamp.
Wellienkamp says the St. Charles community is a strong one that helps support one another.
"Anything this community can do to help this family through this, I know this community will be there for them,” said Wellienkamp.
Emery only shook his head "yes" or "no" in response to judge's questions Monday.
He indicated he had not contacted a public defender yet.
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