ST. LOUIS — St. Louis County police officers shot a man in St. Louis City's Dutchtown neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, according to the city's Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC).
The officers shot the man at a residence near the intersection of Alaska and Taft avenues, RTCC said. The man who was shot, identified only as a 30-year-old, is now in police custody.
A St. Louis County police spokesperson said officers with the department's Bureau of Intelligence and Special Operations Unit were at the scene searching for a homicide suspect at around 11:30 a.m. The officers then reportedly heard several gunshots being fired in the area around two hours later.
At least one suspect was shot in the area, county police said.
“I heard those loud shots. It may have easily been more than 40 gunshots,” Sterling Jones, who operates a convenience store and snack shop down from the scene on Virginia Avenue, said.
“I didn’t go to the door to look out to see what was going on because stray bullets don’t have names on them,” Jones added.
“I just heard gunshots, which is unfortunately normal in this neighborhood, but when I heard the rapid succession, I kind of looked out the window and that’s when I saw the cops over there,” another startled neighbor who has lived in the neighborhood for eight years said.
“They approached the suspect who produced a handgun with a drawn magazine. At that point, gunfire was exchanged. The suspect was struck, taken into custody and an area hospital for treatment. Initially, he was listed in critical, but stable condition,” Maj. Janice Bockstruck with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said.
Neighbors told 5 On Your Side the suspect’s girlfriend lives in the neighborhood. Police questioned her at the scene.
One neighbor said they have had enough of the gun violence.
“I’m ready to move. Just get out of this neighborhood so I can feel more safe and comfortable,” she said.
Police have not yet shared further details on the events leading up to the shooting.
This is a developing situation. This article will be updated with the latest information as it is released.
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