Police officer shot on Page in St. Louis. We will post new details as they emerge! [UPDATE: 4:32]
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – There has been an increase in suspects committing carjackings with assault style rifles in the city of St. Louis. Police say officers were investigating this crime trend Tuesday morning when a suspect pointed a rifle at them.
Detectives with the Special Operations Division were parked in an unmarked vehicle in the 5900 block of Page. They were wearing tactical gear with the words “Police” across their chests.
The officers were running plates on a stolen Nissan Altima in northwest St. Louis city. The vehicle was under surveillance because police believe it was used in several carjackings. A man got out of the vehicle at at stoplight at around 11:20am and pointed an AK-47 rifle at them. He told the officers to get out of the vehicle.
Acting Police Commissioner Lawrence O’Toole says he does not believe the suspect knew that the carjacking victims were police officers at the time. The officers then exchanged gunfire with the suspect. It is unclear about how many shots were fired.
The 21-year-old suspect from north St. Louis County was shot in the arms and legs. He dropped to the ground. Police say his injuries do not appear to be life threatening. He is being treated at an area hospital.
The vehicle he was in then sped away with at least one other occupant inside. That vehicle was found a short time later in the 1200 block of Hamilton. Police say the Nissan was stolen in a mid-October during a carjacking in the 5200 block of Genevieve.
The officers involved in the shooting are 9-year veterans of the force. They are 34 and 36-years-old. One of them was struck in the face by shattered glass during the shooting. He will be treated at an area hospital.
Police say is the same style of weapon that other St. Louis officers have been shot with. Police say that this type of encounter with an assault style weapon is not uncommon. The weapon used in this crime was a stolen AK-47 from Jefferson County, MO.
There is at least one suspect at large. The shooting is still under investigation. Call St. Louis regional Crimestoppers if you have any information at 1-866-371-8477. Or visit: STLRCS.org. Tips sent through this hotline are eligible for a reward. You can remain anonymous.
FOX 2 initially reported an officer had been shot. That information has since been corrected.
The suspect is described as an African-American male, in his mid to late 20s with dreadlocks. He was driving a Black Nissan that was abandoned a short time later near Hamilton and Page.
This comes less than one week after a man was killed and a teenager was wounded during an officer-involved shooting on Thanksgiving Day.
Rehyen Bost-McMurray, 17, was fatally shot by officers who said he pointed a gun at them. A 14-year-old was also shot but survived. That incident took place near the intersection of College Avenue and Conde Street, in the College Hill neighborhood of north city.
The officers were in a marked patrol car when a vehicle pulled out from an alley and struck a curb. Four occupants exited the vehicle and attempted to run from the scene.
Interim Police Chief Lawrence O’Toole said the officers feared for their safety and opened fire, striking both the armed individual and a juvenile that had been in the vehicle. Bost-McMurray and the 14-year-old were taken to a local hospital.
Bost-McMurray was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police say they recovered Bost-McMurray’s handgun at the scene.
This is a developing story.
FOX 2 will keep you updated as details become available.