ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Thursday morning, St. Louis County police said two juvenile suspects were arrested in connection to an attempted carjacking in Ladue.
The teenagers, ages 14 and 15, were each charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest. They are not being identified because they are juveniles.
A Ladue neighborhood was effectively shut down Wednesday afternoon after someone fired shots into a vehicle during an attempted carjacking.
Police responded shortly after 4 p.m. to reports of shots fired on Ladue Ridge, just west of the intersection of Interstate 64 and South McKnight Road.
At least three people wearing ski masks fired one shot into a victim's vehicle while trying to carjack them, police said. No one was injured and there was no ongoing threat to the neighborhood, the Ladue Police Department said.
Police shared photos Wednesday of the suspected carjackers and their charcoal gray Toyota minivan with its rear window covered by cardboard or a brown towel.
Police were posted at the entrance to the subdivision for a time after the incident, and the road was shut down to people who didn't live there. It has since been reopened.
At about 9:40 p.m., north St. Louis County officers spotted the minivan traveling southbound on Lucas and Hunt Road at West Florissant Avenue. A pursuit began after a failed attempt to pull over the van.
The van crashed at about 10 p.m. at Lucas and Hunt Road and Avie Drive. Police said two juvenile suspects were taken into custody after a foot chase. Two guns were recovered.
No other information was available about the suspects as of Thursday morning.
“I had no idea, and yes, it was a complete shock,” said one neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous.
She and her family have lived in the subdivision where the attempted carjacking happened for a couple of years. The mother was stunned to come home and see police just feet away.
“I would never imagine that would ever happen in this area. I’m just completely shocked because this neighborhood is amazingly safe. It’s a beautiful community so to hear of something like that is very concerning,” she said.
“We love our community, and we love our kiddos who walk these streets every day, so I hope everyone’s safe,” she added.
Anyone with additional information regarding the incident was asked to contact the Ladue Police dispatch at 314-737-4600 or the administrative lines at 314-993-1214.