ST. LOUIS — Police have released the name of a man who was shot and killed by a police officer Wednesday after authorities said he stabbed a puppy and then himself with scissors inside a St. Louis office building.
The man was identified as Gregory Maxwell, 37, of Springfield, Illinois.
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The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said the incident happened on the 5700 block of Oakland Avenue, near the former site of the St. Louis Arena in the Cheltenham neighborhood.
St. Louis police Maj. Janice Bockstruck said in a news briefing that Maxwell, who had been staying at the nearby Hampton Inn and Suites, was wandering around the Renaissance Financial building holding a puppy. The man appeared to be in a "mental health crisis" and was entering offices and sitting in various chairs.
When officers arrived, the man pulled out a pair of scissors and refused officer orders to put them down. He then attempted to stab his dog.
Police deployed a stun gun, which was not effective, and the man was able to break free. Still holding the dog, he ran from officers and began pulling on locked office doors in the narrow hallway as officers continued to hollow and order him to put the scissors down. He ducked into a doorway where he was partially hidden and appeared to be stabbing the dog.
Bockstruck said the man sat down in a stairwell and began stabbing himself in the neck. The man then stood up, and an officer, fearing for his life after witnessing the man's prior violent behavior, fired his service weapon.
Maxwell was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Once you start taking violent actions toward animals and yourself ... We tried to deescalate, but unfortunately, it didn't work," Bockstruck said.
No officers were injured.
The 1-year-old pitbull mix was taken to the nearby Humane Society of Missouri for treatment.
Laura Keller, the Humane Society's marketing and communications director, said the veterinary team noticed only one stab wound and the dog is expected to full recover. The dog was "happy and open to snuggling" and would be placed for adoption when ready, Keller said.
"We are very pleased this innocent pup is expected to have a good outcome," HSMO President Kathy Warnick said. "The Humane Society's shelter and medical teams have reported he is a very sweet and gentle dog, but also is understandably fearful at this time. We will take good care of him as we do with all the animals we serve."
The incident Wednesday is the 14th involving a law enforcement officer in St. Louis in 2024.
The department's Force Investigation Unit is handling the investigation.