ST. LOUIS — A man is hospitalized in critical condition and a teen is in custody following a shooting Wednesday morning in St. Louis.
Officers responded to a local hospital after a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound was dropped off by a private vehicle. The man was in critical condition with unstable vital signs and was unable to provide a statement about what happened.
The 17-year-old who dropped off the victim attempted to run, but he was detained by hospital security. The teen said that he had picked up the victim at about 11 a.m. Wednesday near Fair and Lexington avenues before driving him to the hospital.
The vehicle used to transport the victim was reported stolen out of St. Louis County, and the teen was found to be in possession of a loaded gun and suspected narcotics. He was taken into police custody.
Police investigation into the shooting was ongoing as of Wednesday afternoon.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to "stabilize inner-city neighborhoods." One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership with St. Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities.
