A man was shot during an attempted car theft last night in downtown, prompting a police investigation. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the 700 block of Walnut after reports of a shooting around 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday. They found a 32-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his torso.

The victim was on a break from his rideshare job, chatting with two other men when a group in a Hyundai Elantra approached. During the confrontation, one member of the group tried to steal the vehicle of a 27-year-old acquaintance. The car owner fought back but had to escape when a gunshot was fired. It was then that they found the injured third man, as reported by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

“During the struggle, the 27-year-old man said he heard a gunshot and ran away, along with the 32 and 29-year-old men,” as stated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Fortunately, none of the other individuals present were injured. The shooter has not been identified, and the Hyundai Elantra involved fled the scene immediately. Authorities are investigating whether the shot was fired from the Elantra. The injured man was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition, but he was unable to provide a statement due to his injuries. Detectives from District 4 are gathering evidence and asking anyone with information to come forward to help locate the suspects responsible for this crime.