Suspect in custody after shooting at officers in West End: Police

ST. LOUIS – Shots were fired at St. Louis police officers Thursday afternoon after responding to a call in the city’s West End neighborhood.

According to a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened around noon near the intersection of Amherst Place and Julian Avenue.

Police responded to a disturbance call from a landlord about a disgruntled former tenant who was armed. Officers arrived at the scene and saw a man with a gun.

Police said the armed man took off running and fired one shot at officers.

Officers did not return fire and were not injured. The armed man, said to be a convicted felon, was taken into custody a short time later.

The shooting comes after a violent 24 hours in the City of St. Louis. Just Thursday morning, the day began with a deadly shooting near the intersection of Kingshighway Boulevard and Aldine Place. Police found two adult men shot to death outside the Regency at St. Louis Apartments. Numerous shell casings were found at the scene, as well as one handgun.

“When you put into context that our victims are suspects and suspects are victims, it means it’s isolated. It means that we have a gun problem in our city and state; it’s something police said time and time again,” Mitch McCoy with SMPLD said.

Gunshots rang out Wednesday night near Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals were playing. Police say shots were fired near Broadway and Market Street when two individuals in separate cars got into an argument, leading to one vehicle crashing into a utility box.

Residents and law enforcement are calling for the violence to end.

“Daily, we have to bury someone. We need activities and organizations that can step in and help out the community,” resident Latrice Lindell said.

Police are encouraging anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).

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