Early Sunday in north St. Louis County, a late-night crowd on West Florissant Avenue was shattered by gunfire, leaving six people shot and two others injured, according to police. Officers were called to the 11800 block of West Florissant at about 1:25 a.m., where they found multiple victims. The people who were shot were taken to area hospitals with injuries described as non-life-threatening, and two additional people suffered injuries that were not caused by gunfire. The scene shut down part of the corridor and drew a heavy police response.
Police response and victims
St. Louis County police told reporters they arrived to find several victims after someone fired into a crowd, a detail confirmed by KSDK. In total, six people had gunshot wounds and two others were hurt without being struck by bullets, police said. As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been announced and investigators described the case as active.
Why the corridor matters
The West Florissant corridor has carried a heavy history since the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson, which pushed the area into the national spotlight and turned the avenue into a familiar backdrop for protests and large gatherings, as reported by The Guardian. That past means any new burst of violence along the strip lands hard for residents and local officials who know how quickly tensions there can escalate.
Investigators seek tips
St. Louis County police are asking anyone who saw what happened or has information about the shooting to call investigators at 636-529-8210, according to KSDK. Officials said they plan to release more details as the investigation moves forward and urged witnesses to come forward to help detectives sort out who opened fire and why.
