ST. LOUIS — A shooting in front of a St. Louis social services center left one person dead and another hospitalized, the city's police department said.
Homicide investigators were called Wednesday to the scene in the 900 block of Dock Street near 9th Street to reports of a shooting, the department said. The address is shared by the St. Louis Empowerment Center, which "services individuals in the St. Louis area who have lived experience with mental health and/or substance use disorders," the center's website said. Investigators haven't clarified whether the victims or suspect(s) were involved with the center.
Officials at the scene pronounced one man dead, officers said. Another man was transported to a local hospital with critical and life-threatening injuries, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
In mid-March, police identified the victim who died as 43-year-old Chad Duren.
During a Wednesday briefing, police addressed the silver SUV that took off from the scene at the same time of the shooting and led police on a pursuit.
"Officers did spot that vehicle in the area of 70 in Salisbury. They did attempt to stop that vehicle. And there was a pursuit of that vehicle that ultimately ended in the area of Grand and Kossuth, where the driver of that vehicle was detained," Sgt. Charles Wall said.
A 36-year-old man was taken into custody.
Christina Lee, a witness, said she heard gunshot after gunshot.
"It was just real close together. Just pop, pop, pop," Lee said, adding she heard at least six shots.
"I immediately looked out the window and seen the silver SUV crash and the passenger getting out. He had been shot and staggering," Lee said.
Lee called police but she said what happened next was even scarier.
"Then the driver was trying to get people to help him get the other person out of the car and no one was willing to to do that. Obviously, because we're waiting for the police to get here. And so they pulled him out of the car and the driver took off and actually ran over his legs as they were escaping," Lee said.
Meanwhile, Lee said there needs to be a solution to stop the city's violence.
"I don't know what can solve it, what can help. But, something has to be done because you never know if you're going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Lee said.
Another witness at the scene told 5 On Your Side's Diamond Palmer that he saw a man and a woman arguing in the middle of the street. The man reportedly pulled out a gun and started firing at a nearby car. The woman then pulled a man's body from the vehicle, put it in the street, and then drove away from the scene. The witness said he also captured the shooting on his dashboard camera and has handed over the footage to police for the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
This is a developing situation. This article will be updated with the latest information as it is released.
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