A man opened fire on a St. Louis police officer late Monday near a car wash on South Kingshighway, touching off a multi hour manhunt in the Tower Grove South neighborhood. Police said a security officer flagged down a uniformed officer at about 10 p.m., and the suspect then fired a shot. The officer was not hit and did not return fire. Officers spent the night combing nearby blocks and warning residents to steer clear of the suspect and call in any possible sightings.
Police describe suspect, warn public
As reported by KSDK, St. Louis police described the suspect as a roughly 45 year old man about 6 feet tall weighing 170 to 180 pounds, last seen wearing a red and black jacket and blue jeans. Police said he is known to carry either a backpack or a rolling suitcase. Authorities told reporters the suspect remained at large in the early morning hours.
Where it happened
The gunfire was reported near The Neighborhood Car Wash at 3233 S. Kingshighway Blvd., on a busy stretch of Kingshighway Boulevard in Tower Grove South. Business listings and mapping services list the car wash at that address, according to MapQuest.
Police response and statement
Police warned the suspect is armed and dangerous and should not be approached, and asked anyone with information to call 911, according to KSDK. Mitch McCoy, the St. Louis Police Department’s director of public affairs, told the outlet, "We are incredibly thankful that our officer was not injured when this suspect fired at our police officer."
Citywide context
The incident comes as the St. Louis Police Department reported 17 homicides so far this year in its March 28 homicide analysis, underscoring ongoing gun violence challenges for investigators, per the St. Louis Police Department. Investigators did not immediately release a suspect name and again asked anyone with tips to contact 911.
