Gunman who shot 2 officers arrested after long standoff
A St. Louis ST. LOUIS, MO.— police officer who was shot in the headwhile responding to a shooting on the city’s south side remained in critical condition Sunday, police said.
A second officer who was shot in the leg was treated and released after the shooting around 6 p.m. in the South Grand neighborhood near Tower Grove Park, St. Louis Police Department spokeswoman Officer Michelle Woodling said.
Theofficershot in thehead is a 29-year-oldmanwith 31/2 years of experiencewith the department. Woodling said the second is 30 and has been on the force about six months.
The 43-year-old suspect was taken into custody Sunday morning, Woodling said.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief John Hayden said the gunman ordered a family out of their home and barricaded himself inside for almost 12 hours.
Officerswere searching for another reported shooting victim when the gun man shot one of them in the head and the other in the leg, Hayden said.
The officers were“trying to do their job, that’s all they’re trying to do and they’ re suffering under gun fire ,” Hayden said, adding that the incidents are part of “a surge in violence” this summer. He asked residents to pray for the officers.
Hayden said eight of his officers have been shot in the line of duty since June 1.
“We’re trying to cope through a very trying summer, and it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult,” he said.
While the man was barricaded inside, officers armed with rifles and a SWAT team assembled outside. Police closed surrounding streets andwarned residents to stay inside. Police used a bullhorn to order the suspect out and fired tear gas into the house, but fired no gunshots, the department said.
The man was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. Policehavereleasednodetails abouthowthe standoffcame to an end.
Homeowners Mimi and SteveHaag said theywere trying to call 911 to help another manwhohadbeenshotwhen the gunman justwalked into their home.
“I sawthen he had a gun,” SteveHaag told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Hewas very calm standing there with it in his hand and he just says to Mimi: ‘Ma’amyou need to get off the phone.’”
TheHaagsescapedthrough the back door and were unhurt. Police were unable to locate the other manwho was apparently shot and wounded.
St. LouisMayorLydaKrewson tweetedher condolences following the incident.
“Please keep our injured officers and all the men and women of @SLMPD in your thoughts and prayers as this situation continues to develop. Their friends, family and loved ones, too,” Krewson said.