Early Wednesday, a quiet night inside a St. Louis home near Dutchtown turned dangerous when a 21-year-old man was hit by what police say was a stray bullet. Officers responded around 1 a.m. to the 4000 block of Nebraska Avenue, where they found the man conscious with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital with what police described as a non-life-threatening injury. Detectives said they also found evidence of gunfire in the 2800 block of Gasconade Street and reported that the investigation is ongoing.
Law enforcement account
According to KSDK, St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers were first called to Nebraska Avenue, where they located the 21-year-old victim and began an investigation that led them to the 2800 block of Gasconade Street. The station reports that detectives believe the shots that hit the man came from outside the home. As of now, no arrests have been announced.
Where this fits into a pattern
Data from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch homicide tracker lists earlier shootings on the 4000 block of Nebraska Avenue, showing that this stretch of the street has appeared in prior reports. That history underscores how gunfire on the block can threaten people inside nearby homes, even when they are not the intended targets.
Police appeal
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call them at 314-444-2500 or to submit anonymous tips through CrimeStoppers, KSDK reports. Police say the investigation remains active as they review surveillance footage and interview witnesses in an effort to pinpoint where the shots came from.
