ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer shot a hammer-wielding man in the leg after responding to a mental health crisis Friday evening in south St. Louis.
The department said no officers were injured in the incident, which occurred on the 5200 block of Idaho Avenue.
St. Louis Police Maj. Janice Bockstruck said a woman called 911 because her 18-year-old son was experiencing a mental health crisis, committing violent acts and wielding a hammer.
When police arrived, they heard noises from the backyard and saw the man exit the gangway with the hammer. As he began walking toward police, he refused orders to drop the hammer.
The man continued to advance and an officer shot him, striking him once in the leg.
The man then stopped but still would not drop the hammer. A second officer then used a stun gun on him and took him into custody without further incident.
The man was in the hospital and "receiving the help that he needs," Bockstruck said.
Bockstruck said police had received at least two calls at the address in the past week regarding "a young man needing help."
Bockstruck gave the update at the scene Friday evening, which can be viewed in the below video player:
