ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – Dozens of protesters were in south St. Louis Wednesday night after a suspect was shot and killed while exchanging gunfire with SWAT team members earlier in the day, according to police.
Protesters, hit and run, and the adorable service dog, Zeus! This happened in south city St. Louis, intersection of Kingshighway and Chippewa tonight. WARNING: This video contains profanity.
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Members of SWAT were executing a search warrant for illegal narcotics and drugs in the 5400 block of South Kingshighway before 11:30 a.m. After gaining entry, multiple gunshots were reportedly fired at officers.
KMOV.com
Officers then returned fire, striking and killing the suspect, according to St. Louis Police officials. Family members told News 4 the suspect who was killed is Isaiah Hammett, 21.
“A bunch of shots were going on. My grandson was trying to protect me on the floor. He went into the dining room then I hear screaming and I see my grandson lying dead on the dining room floor,” said Dennis Torres, Hammett’s grandfather.
Late Wednesday night, family and friends of Hammett were seen in the area holding signs that read “Justice for Isaiah.” Some members of the group said they believed Hammett would never shoot at police.
“He’s been taking care of his grandfather since he was 16 years old and he threw his grandfather on the floor and when he thought somebody was kicking in the door he didn’t know it was the police,” Hammett’s grandmother, Dawn Atwell, said. “He went and took his grandfather and put him on the floor to be safe and then goes in there, and next thing you know, he’s dead.”
During the protest, one person was knocked down by a car after not allowing it to pass at the intersection of Chippewa and Kingshighway.
No officers were injured during the shooting.
Police said they recovered Hammett’s assault rifle.
All of the officers who fired shots have been out on administrative leave, police said.
According to the St. Louis Police Department, South Kingshighway from Eichelberger to Siegel was closed during the afternoon due to the investigation.