In the early hours of a Thursday morning, a St. Louis police officer was involved in a deadly encounter that unfolded after a man resisted arrest and attempted to seize the officer’s firearm. The incident, which occurred in the Jeff Vander Lou neighborhood, resulted in the suspect’s death at a local hospital, according to Police Chief John Hayden.
Just before 1:00 a.m., officers were patrolling the 4000 block of Garfield and Vandeventer, an area known to authorities for frequent drug activity. An officer approached a vehicle and discovered the driver in possession of marijuana. When the officer attempted to remove the driver from the car, the suspect resisted, leading to a physical struggle.
Chief Hayden stated that the officer initially deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue the suspect. However, the Taser proved ineffective. The officer then observed the suspect reaching for a gun in his pocket, as reported by Fox 2 St. Louis. In response, the officer discharged one round, striking the suspect in the chest.
The injured man was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Further investigation revealed that a 7-year-old child was present in the vehicle during the scuffle. The child exited the vehicle and ran to her mother and was unharmed.
A loaded revolver was recovered from the scene as evidence.
Chief Hayden provided an update on the officer-involved shooting in the 4000 block of Garfield. St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 5, 2019
Authorities have withheld the identity of the deceased. The officer involved in the incident is 28 years old and has four years of service with the St. Louis Police Department. A second officer, aged 24 with two years of service, was also present. No officers sustained injuries during the encounter. This incident highlights the dangers law enforcement officers face daily and the difficult decisions they must make in high-pressure situations.
YOU’D BE SURPRISED TO LEARN WHAT A COP EXPERIENCES DURING A FATAL ENCOUNTER