A man in the Wells/Goodfellow neighborhood claims to have been shot in the early hours of the morning, but authorities are yet to find evidence to support his account. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's District 5 is currently investigating the incident, which reportedly occurred earlier today, in the 5700 block of Natural Bridge. According to the police, the call came in around 3:15 a.m. from a local hospital where the victim sought treatment.
The 52-year-old alleged victim told officers he was walking at about 2 a.m. when a vehicle loudly playing music drove by and he suddenly felt pain, subsequently realizing he had been shot in his foot/ankle. His decision to then call a friend to take him home rather than immediately seek medical attention adds yet another layer to this puzzling scenario. He was later privately transported to the hospital where he was listed in stable condition. Despite the seriousness of his claims, the absence of ShotSpotter activations or Real Time Crime Center camera footage to corroborate his story leaves more questions than answers.
It is standard protocol for ShotSpotter technology, which is designed to detect the sound of gunshots and alert police to their location, to pick up such incidents. The fact that no such alerts were received from the area where the incident allegedly took place casts doubt on the man's narrative. Furthermore, surveillance efforts in urban settings often rely heavily on camera networks to capture criminal activity; however, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department report notes that the cameras in the vicinity did not record any evidence to back up the man's statements.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the lack of physical evidence typically found in shooting cases—such as ballistic analysis, witness accounts, or video footage—presents a significant challenge for investigators. As the investigation continues, officials are asking anyone who might have witnessed the event or have relevant information to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
