Deadly End to St. Louis Shooting Pursuit: Armed Suspect Killed by Police After High-Speed Chase Through City Streets
ST. LOUIS, MO — A violent night in St. Louis turned deadlier in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 22, when a suspect in an overnight shooting was shot and killed by police following a dramatic high-speed chase across the city.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the chain of events began just after 2:00 a.m., when officers were dispatched to the 4100 block of Manchester Avenue in the Grove neighborhood for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. He was immediately transported to a hospital and is currently listed in stable condition, police said.
Witnesses at the scene described the shooter as a man seen fleeing the area on a moped, prompting officers to issue a citywide alert with the suspect’s description. Minutes later, a patrol officer spotted a person matching the description near Manchester and Sarah Avenue and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
However, the suspect refused to stop, triggering a pursuit through city streets. The chase drew in detectives from the department’s Drug Enforcement and Intervention Unit, who joined the pursuit as it wound through several neighborhoods.
The suspect eventually abandoned the moped in the 3900 block of Clayton Avenue, pulling into a vacant lot near the Central West End area. Officers approached the suspect and issued commands to surrender. According to police, the man ignored repeated verbal commands and instead reached into a bag slung across his shoulder.
Fearing for their safety and that of others nearby, two detectives discharged their firearms, striking the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the man’s identity, pending notification of next of kin. It is also not yet known what, if anything, was found inside the bag he reached for.
The case is now under investigation by the St. Louis Force Investigation Unit, which is tasked with reviewing all officer-involved shootings. Police officials confirmed that body-worn cameras were active during the encounter, and the footage will be part of the ongoing review.
The original shooting victim remains hospitalized and is expected to survive, though the motive behind the initial gunfire has not yet been disclosed.
While the investigation continues, calls for transparency have already emerged from community members and activists. Some are demanding the immediate release of the bodycam footage, questioning whether the use of deadly force was justified and whether de-escalation efforts were attempted.
“We understand public concern,” said a spokesperson for the department Sunday morning. “Our Force Investigation Unit will conduct a full and thorough review of this incident. We ask the public for patience as we gather facts and review all evidence.”
This incident marks the latest in a string of police-involved shootings that have intensified community debates over law enforcement tactics, use-of-force protocols, and public safety.
Anyone with additional information about the initial shooting or the subsequent police encounter is urged to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department or submit a tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS.
As the city awaits more answers, many are reflecting on the violence that unfolded overnight — one that began with gunfire and ended in the death of the alleged perpetrator.