Two Bellefontaine Neighbors police officers were shot near the intersection of Bellefontaine and Chambers Roads in north St. Louis County Thursday morning. Authorities say they were struck in the chest and their ballistic vests likely saved their lives. They were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and since gunshots, even when stopped by Kevlar armor, can cause bruising, internal bleeding, and organ damage.
Bellefontaine Neighbors Mayor Bob Doerr told the Post-Dispatch that the bullet proof vests were only purchased for the officers in the last year. The officers' names haven't been released, but they are said to be a 44-year-old male sergeant and a 25-year-old female patrol officer.
Witnesses say the officers confronted the armed man on his front lawn and were attempting to negotiate with him. The officers used a taser to try to control the suspect but were unsuccessful, and the man opened fire with a handgun from close range. One officer returned fire and police say it's unclear if the suspect was injured.
After the shooting, the gunman barricaded himself in a nearby house, where police believe he may have access to an AR-15 assault rifle. Police currently have him surrounded, and tactical units are on the scene. Officials said the officers had stopped the man because he was suspected of a shooting that occurred in the same neighborhood the previous night. Police say the suspect is 37 years old and have called him "Jason" over loudspeakers. They have not heard from him since he barricaded himself in the house. As of noon, the suspect was still alive and police were continuing to try to negotiate with him.
"Officers are still on scene continuing to try to bring about a peaceful resolution with the suspect," police said. "He remains armed and barricaded inside a home."
https://patch.com/missouri/ballwin-ellisville/s/gb7pr/armed-standoff-continues-after-two-officers-shot
