ST. LOUIS — Two teenagers and a 20-year-old man were involved in a crash and robbed in St. Louis early Friday morning, leaving two people injured.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call about a shooting at about 12 a.m. at the intersection of Union Boulevard and Thekla Avenue.
Police arrived on the scene and said they saw three victims: a 20-year-old man, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl.
Right away police noticed the 18-year-old victim was suffering from a gunshot wound. According to police, he was uncooperative and refused to provide a statement without a lawyer present.
The 20-year-old man told police that the three victims were "urban explorers." He also told police that the three of them were driving in the area when their car was hit from the rear by a man wearing dark clothes and a black ski mask rolled up above his face. The suspect then got out of his car, pointed a gun at them, announced a robbery and then fired shots at them.
The 17-year-old gave police what they called "conflicting accounts."
Police said the suspect fled in his car, which was found on the 5300 block of Union Boulevard.
Paramedics took the 18-year-old and 20-year-old to a St. Louis hospital. The 18-year-old was "stable," and the 20-year-old was treated for minor injuries. The 17-year-old did not report any injuries.
Police did not say if they had taken a suspect into custody.
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.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged home from the emergency department after being shot.
