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Suspect shot, officer injured in St. Louis’ West End neighborhood

Interim Police Chief O'Toole said officers in an unmarked car were following a car they believed was stolen when a man got out of the car and pointed an AK-47-style weapon at the officers.

ST. LOUIS – An officer and suspect ended up in the hospital Tuesday after exchanging gunfire in St. Louis’ West End neighborhood. A suspect was shot and another suspect remains at large.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Around 11:55 a.m., preliminary information from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department revealed two officers were injured. An update at 12:45 p.m. says one officer was injured.

The officer was injured from a piece of glass and was transported to a hospital for treatment. One of the suspects, a 21-year-old man, was shot by police and taken to a hospital. His injuries were not expected to be life-threatening.

In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Interim Police Chief Lawrence O'Toole said officers in an unmarked police vehicle were following a car that they suspect had been taken in a carjacking in October. While they were waiting for more information, the car they were following came to a stop at a traffic light on the 5900 block of Page at around 11:20. A man in the car got out with an AK-47-style gun, pointed it at police and told them to get out of the car, O'Toole said.

O'Toole said the officers got out of the car and exchanged gunfire with the man, striking him once and knocking him to the ground. O'Toole said they do not believe the man knew the officers in the unmarked car were police officers at that time. He said the driver of the car and one other person sped off in the stolen car.

The car was recovered a short time later in the 1200 block of Hamilton. After more investigation, it was determined that the car was stolen on Genevieve Avenue in the Walnut Park East neighborhood in October.

O'Toole said the officers involved in the incident were both 9-year veterans. One of them suffered an injury to his face from shards of glass.He is being treated at the hospital and is expected to be released.

O'Toole said the man who exchanged gunfire with police was a 21-year-old man who was shot several times in the arms and legs. He was undergoing surgery, but his injuries were not expected to be life-threatening, according to O'Toole.

The gun was reported stolen out of Jefferson County, O'Toole said.

O'Toole said there is at least one suspect still on the loose, but did not provide a description.

The investigation is ongoing.

Scene photos:

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