ST. LOUIS — An encampment near St. Louis' City Hall is being cleared out after police shot and killed a man during a shooting nearby early Friday morning.
The incident happened at about 7:30 a.m. near the intersection directly in front of Memorial Park and near Enterprise Center, where a man was shooting at another, according to the St. Louis Police Department. The man shot and killed the victim, and a nearby police officer shot and killed the shooter.
READ MORE: St. Louis police officer shoots, kills man who shot, killed man in downtown St. Louis Friday morning
Officers told 5 On Your Side that they don't know if the two people involved in the shooting were part of the homeless encampment or not, but the incident spurred St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones to announce a clear out of the encampment just hours after the incident.
"We are taking this incident seriously, and the safety of our residents and staff is paramount," Jones said. "The area will be secured today, and individuals will no longer be permitted to congregate near the building."
5 On Your Side crews at the scene witnessed the clear out of the camp at around 11:50 a.m. Officers at the scene appeared to be trying to get the last man at the camp to leave peacefully, while multiple other camp members have moved across the street to Memorial Plaza. City employees put up more gates around city hall and the surrounding areas.
Diamond Palmer spoke to City of St. Louis Parks and Recreation employees who knew the man who was shot and killed. They said the man's family is "torn up" and that issues around City Hall should have been fixed earlier.
"It shouldn’t take a death for you to come and help and they’re trying to alleviate the problem”, the employees said.
It's the second homeless encampment at City Hall that Jones has ordered to be cleared out in the past seven months. Dozens of people living in the makeshift encampment on the lawn of St. Louis' City Hall were forced to move in the early hours of Oct. 3.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'This is a crisis': Homeless encampment on St. Louis City Hall lawn dwindles, tents dismantled Tuesday
"I'm grateful for the SLMPD officer who responded to a shooting incident in progress and upheld his duty to protect and serve," Jones said in a statement.
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