ST. LOUIS — A suspect was charged Monday after he allegedly shot a woman and fired at St. Louis police officers Saturday night.
Marcus Taylor, 39, was charged with two counts of first-degree assault of a special victim, one count of first-degree assault and multiple other crimes in connection with the Saturday incident.
St. Louis police said two officers were in the 3600 block of Bates Street shortly before 7:45 p.m. on a service call when they heard a loud pop and saw a woman getting out of the passenger seat of a vehicle stopped on Bates Street.
The woman ran toward the officers' car screaming "He just shot me!" The officers then watched Taylor get out of the driver's side of the vehicle with a pistol, police said.
The officers, who have been with St. Louis police for eight years and three months, respectively, got out of their police car and told Taylor to drop his gun.
Taylor then pointed his gun in the officers' direction and fired shots, police said. The officers fired shots back at Taylor, who ran from the area.
The officers ran after Taylor but lost sight of him in the 5500 block of Tennessee Avenue and returned to the victim.
Police said the officers secured the victim in their police car until EMS arrived.
When EMS arrived, the woman was taken to the hospital. She was listed in critical condition with stable vitals. Police said she had been shot in the back and right arm.
The two officers, along with multiple other officers who responded, canvassed the area where Taylor was last seen, and he was located, with his gun, in the backyard of a home in the 5500 block of Tennessee Avenue.
Police said Taylor was ordered at gunpoint by officers to drop his gun. Police said he eventually did drop the gun, but refused to surrender to police and was tased before being taken into custody.
Police said Taylor nor the officers were injured.
St Louis police's Force Investigation Unit is investigating the incident.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
Cure Violence is an international organization that is present in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities.
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