Charges have been filed against 35-year-old Janee Ryan following an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred near the intersection of Interstate 70 and Earth City Expressway. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued a statement on Tuesday, with Ryan, a resident of the Pear Blossom Court in St. Ann, facing six counts of fourth-degree assault and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. According to the official press release by the St. Louis County Police Department, her bond has been set at a cash-only $250,000, with no option to pay 10% for release.
As per the same release, police responded to a call about a suicidal individual brandishing a handgun on Tuesday. When officers arrived, they encountered Ryan, who allegedly refused to heed commands to disarm and instead flourished her weapon. One of the responding officers, "fearing for his safety," reportedly had no choice but to discharge his firearm, which resulted in a grazing wound to Ryan. The statement details that she then attempted to quickly advance on the police but was subdued and later admitted to brandishing the pistol at the officers during her arrest.
While charges imply wrongdoing, it's imperative to remember that in the United States legal system, accused individuals, like Ryan, are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation into the details of the confrontation and ensuing shooting is being conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department's Bureau of Crimes Against Persons. Ryan's admittance of flourishing the pistol at the police has been obtained by the St. Louis County Police Department, as noted in their report.
