St. Louis off-duty officer fires gun at West County Mall theft, assault suspects
DES PERES, Mo Sept 22 2019Â An off-duty police officer fired a shot at two shoplifting suspects as they attempted to flee the West County Mall garage Tuesday afternoon.
Des Peres police said they were called to the mall on a report two shoplifters had assaulted a store manager at Foot Locker inside the mall.
As the suspects attempted to run from the store, an off-duty police officer who witnessed the theft and assault attempted to stop the suspects.
The suspects ran into the West Parking Garage at the mall, where the officer again attempted to get the suspects to stop.
The pair then entered a small black vehicle, and the officer again approached the vehicle and instructed the pair to stop and surrender, police said.
The duo then accelerated.  At that point, the officer fired one shot towards the vehicle.  The car continued, striking another parked car.
The suspect’s vehicle is described as a dark grey Fiat 500X, four doors with Illinois license plates.
No arrests were made and no injuries were reported.
Police initially told News 4 the shooting was an accidental discharge of a weapon.
The St. Louis Metropolitan officer, who was not identified, has 21 years of service.
KMOV.com
