WENTZVILLE, Mo. — Officers with the Wentzville Police Department shot an armed man, sending him to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Wednesday.
Officials would later say the 53-year-old gunman was a person of interest sought in a Lincoln County Sheriff's Office illegal weapon use and kidnapping-at-gunpoint investigation.
The gunman was in the car with two others, who were giving him a ride. The pair in the car's front seats got a phone call, telling them their passenger was involved in a kidnapping.
After being confronted by the pair, the gunman threatened to harm himself, putting the gun to his head.
Officers arriving on the scene found the gunman still in the back seat of the four-door sedan, holding a gun and threatening to harm himself.
At some point during the incident, at least one officer opened fire at the car.
As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, police had not said why the officers opened fire.
According to police, the man did not return fire. It is unknown whether the man aimed or pointed the gun at the officers.
The shooting happened in the 1200 block of West Pearce Boulevard in front of an AutoZone store.
The police department's Critical Response Team was activated for the first time, handling the incident after the shooting.
No officers were injured during the shooting. Other details were not immediately available. The man was still in the hospital as of Thursday morning.
Wentzville police posted on Facebook saying officers and investigators were working the scene.
St. Charles County crime scene investigators were at the scene of the shooting.