IMPERIAL, Mo. — St. Louis police officers killed a man in a shootout in Imperial, Missouri, after a chase and crash in a stolen car Thursday morning, the Jefferson County sheriff said.
Police blocked off the 1100 block of Westward Trails Drive in Imperial, Missouri, Thursday, where witnesses in the area said they heard a crash followed by about a dozen gunshots a little after 7 a.m. One witness told 5 On Your Side he saw police approach the driver after the crash and exchange gunfire with that person.
Neighbor Megan Wangler was getting her daughter ready for school when she heard sirens and then gunshots.
“It happened so fast I just kind of snatched my daughter up and ran to the kitchen, dropped to the ground, and just waited for the shots to be over with," Wangler said.
In a press release later in the day, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department identified the man as 45-year-old Terry Pfeffer. The release said Pfeffer had an extensive criminal history that included gun and drug charges, assault, tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.
“The suspect dictated the actions of law enforcement officers," Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak said. "The police officers responded. Make no mistake. If they’re shooting at police officers, the average citizen, where do they sit on the totem pole?”
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department provided a mugshot from a previous arrest.
In a press conference, Marshak said the incident started when Pfeffer, who was inside a stolen truck, fired shots at officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Anti-Crime Task Force near the intersection of Broadway and Schirmer in St. Louis. The officers used a spike strip to deflate the truck's tires, but the driver continued to flee.
Marshak said Pfeffer fled from St. Louis and through St. Louis County before crashing in Jefferson County. He said the man was shooting at officers throughout the chase.
After the crash, the man fired a shot at police who then returned fire. The man was later pronounced dead. A woman who was in the truck during the chase and shootout tried to run away but was taken into custody, Marshak said.
Neighbors who witnessed the shooting say they heard 10-15 shots. The press release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department said a handgun was recovered at the scene of the shootout.
Police said Pfeffer had a long criminal history with multiple offenses and he was someone known to law enforcement.
Neighbors who knew the woman said she is 34 years old and struggled with drug abuse while being surrounded by bad influences.
Marshak said his department is handling an investigation into the shooting.
In security video provided by neighbor Jennifer Viar, the truck is seen speeding down the street followed by police. The truck is screeching and smoking as it speeds past the camera.
“Thank god they nipped it in the bud when they did," Mark Caviecy said. "Thank god it wasn’t when school buses were running. Kids are out here normally. The road is usually packed with kids.”
“Its amazing nobody else got hurt," Wangler said. "God had angels over Westward Trails today.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says they will be handling the ongoing criminal investigation.
And St. Louis City Police Department says multiple detectives are being investigated as a part of their administrative investigation.