A 35-year-old man is in critical but stable condition after being shot in the head late Tuesday on the 1400 block of Union Boulevard in St. Louis' Academy neighborhood, according to police. Officers took a 27-year-old man into custody at the scene as detectives work to sort out what triggered the violence.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department told KMOV the call about the shooting came in just after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Responding officers found the 35-year-old with a gunshot wound to the head in the 1400 block of Union Boulevard. KMOV reports that a 27-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident. Police have not released the names of either man.
Union Boulevard Hit by String of Late-Night Shootings This Month
This stretch of Union Boulevard has already seen several violent incidents this month, including an early-morning killing in the 1600 block on July 15 and a fatal shooting near Union and Terry earlier in July. As reported in coverage of pre-dawn gunfire that turned a Union Boulevard gas station deadly, the recent cluster of cases has put a fresh spotlight on overnight safety along the corridor.
That reporting notes citywide homicide data show a continuing pattern of overnight shootings, and community leaders have been urging residents to share what they know with police.
Investigators Piecing Together the Dispute
Police told KMOV that preliminary findings suggest the two men may have had a disagreement earlier in the day. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and processing evidence as they work to reconstruct the events that led up to the gunfire.
Officers said they will release additional information as the investigation moves forward and after they complete notification protocols.
How to Help
Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Louis Police Department's homicide division or submit an anonymous tip to St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477) or through the P3 Tips app. CrimeStoppers notes that tips to its hotline or app may be eligible for a reward and that callers remain anonymous.
The department has not announced any charges and said it will update the public as investigators develop leads. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
