WELDON SPRING, Mo. — A St. Charles County police officer fatally shot a man who ran from a traffic stop early Monday morning in Weldon Spring. Police identified the man as 40-year-old Tracy Hayes of St. Charles.
Police said the incident began just after 12:30 a.m. Monday when a car pulled up alongside patrol officers to ask for directions in the area of Siedentop Road and Technology Drive. Officers approached the car, which was coming from an otherwise empty lot with no businesses open at the time and began asking the two people inside for their identification.
That's when Hayes, the passenger, got out of the car and ran. Officers apprehended him after a brief foot chase, police said, but he was able to slightly free himself and pulled out a weapon.
Seeing the weapon, a St. Charles County officer fired shots and struck the suspect. Police could not say the number of shots fired by the officer, who was described as 23 years old with two years of experience at the department.
"All of our officers, the ones that come newly out of the academy, or the ones that have veterans for years, know that a life-threatening situation or encounter is possible at any given time," Corporal Barry Bayles of the St. Charles County Police Department said.
Officers performed first aid before Hayes was taken via ambulance to a local hospital, where he later died.
"We're sorry that there was a loss of life," Bayles said. "But we train our officers to make sure they're safe and take all precautions."
No officers were hurt in the incident.
Court records show Tracy Hayes has a lengthy criminal history. Bayles confirmed with 5 On Your Side at the time of the shooting that Hayes was on probation for a previous crime after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.
Police confirmed a firearm was recovered at the scene. The driver of the vehicle never tried to flee officers and was cooperating with the investigation.
As of Monday afternoon, the shooting remained under investigation by the St. Charles County Critical Incident Response Team.
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.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
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 the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
Cure Violence is an international organization that is present in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to de-escalate violent situations within their own communities.
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