Updated at 8:50 a.m. Aug. 30
St. Louis police took a man accused of shooting two police officers in south St. Louis into custody, about 12 hours after the standoff started.
The man was taken into custody about 5:35 a.m. Sunday, a spokesperson for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said.
The shooting happened in the South Grand neighborhood in the 3700 block of Hartford Street around 5:45 p.m. The area is near Tower Grove Park.
Both officers were transported to a hospital. One of the officers was shot in the head and the other was shot in the leg. During a press conference, Chief John Hayden said the officer who was shot in the head is in very critical condition. He asked for prayers for the two officers.
As of 9:30 p.m., the officer who is in critical condition was in surgery.
Police said a suspect is barricaded inside a house in the area. The suspect ordered a couple out of their home at gunpoint and is still in the home. That suspect did not know the couple.
There were multiple streets blocked off.
“Our officers have been going through a lot this summer.” Hayden said. "It's very disturbing, we're just trying to do our job," he said.
Hayden said both officers are around the age of 29. The officer who is in very critical condition has been with the department for about three years and the other officer has been with the department for under a year.
Hayden also said a total of eight officers have been shot in the line of duty since June 1.
Late Saturday, there were more than two dozen police officers outside the emergency room at Saint Louis University Hospital.
5 On Your Side's Justina Coronel spoke to a woman who was out to eat in the popular area.
"We got here and pulled up to get a quick bite to eat at the diner and then police were everywhere, and then told us to move down here. We heard reports that two officers were shot and somebody barricaded themselves in. You heard the ambulance and sirens... it was just like a movie, they came in and shut the street down. There was lot of people and people that were working, it’s pretty active so they moved us for safety," Sara Turnbull said.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson shared the following tweet:
Two @SLMPD officers were shot by a gunman tonight while protecting St. Louis citizens, and they are now hospitalized. Teresa & I are praying for the officers and their families. Chief Hayden said this makes eight STL officers shot since June. This violence must end! #BackTheBlue https://t.co/bT97CdfBHY— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) August 30, 2020
Mayor Lyda Krewson called what happened to the officers "deeply upsetting and troubling."
“We’ve had eight officers now shot in the line of duty since June 1," Krewson said in a statement. "I ask that everyone please keep the injured officers from tonight in their thoughts and prayers, in addition to all the men and women of the SLMPD and their friends, family and loved ones.”
In a statement, Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner said:
“We extend our deepest concern and sadness surrounding today’s unfortunate events. I want to extend my prayers for the injured SLMPD officers and their families.”
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