ST. LOUIS — Two shootings in St. Louis overnight, one shortly after the other, left a woman dead and another injured. The woman was a witness to the first shooting, police say.
These shootings led to a very intense situation for police officers, civilians and a member of our 5 On Your Side team.
The shootings happened about two hours apart at the same place near the corner of Greer and Marcus Avenue in St. Louis.
A man was shot in the back while getting out of a car, investigators later determined. The man was in stable condition.
As police were on the scene to investigate, even more shots rang out.
A woman was shot and killed in the second shooting. Police say she was a witness to the first shooting. She was identified Wednesday as 29-year-old Donna Rucker, who lived near the shooting scenes. Rucker was found shot to death inside her vehicle in the 3000 block of Marcus.
Anyone with information on either incident is urged to call the St. Louis Homicide Division at 314-444-5371. Anyone with a tip who wants to remain anonymous and is interested in a reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
A 5 On Your Side photographer was caught up in the incident while his camera was rolling.
Gunshots are heard in our video from the scene of the second shooting. Following the shots, someone yells, “Get down, get down!" Our photographer said he heard “three loud booms” ringing out. He said officers shouted for him to get down. Our photographer and the officers were not injured.
So far this year, 146 homicides have been reported in the city. That number is down from 2020’s statistics. Last year was the highest homicide count the city has seen in the past five years.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones has addressed the city's violence in the past, saying the city needs more resources for things like treatment for substance abuse and mental health programs that help lift people out of poverty and meaningful criminal justice reforms.