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ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Guns and a stolen pickup proved to be a deadly combination Tuesday night when two suspects refused to surrender and instead reached for guns. Undercover St. Louis police officers fired shots at the pair killing both in an alley off Clara near Wabada. St. Louis Police Lt. Colonel Alfred Adkins said the officers were following normal procedure in defending themselves. One is a ten year veteran of the department and the other has served for three and a half years.
The incident began when members of the Tactical Division's Anti-crime Unit spotted a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck reported stolen from the Comfort Suites Hotel in St. Charles City on Sunday. They followed the vehicle and succeeded in deploying spike strips to deflate the tires. Two tires went flat, but the driver continued and turned into an alley. The truck struck a guide wire and turned over.
Five suspects were in the vehicle. A woman surrendered; two men resisted arrest and were tased before police could take them into custody. Police said commands to the remaining two men to show their hands they retrieved weapons. That's when two officers, fearing for their safety, fired shots striking both men multiple times.
26-year old Jeremiah C. Henderson of the 6300 block of Sherry and 21-year old Darrell Williams of the 5400 block of Riverview were both pronounced dead at the scene. The Circuit Attorney's office is considering charges of tampering with a vehicle against the three survivors however one, 32-year old Montraill L. Claiborne of the ten block of Waterways, 63033 was charged with a drug offense.
Adkins said the investigation would continue. Police want to know, "are these individuals involved in other crimes of a similar nature ..not only dealing with stolen vehicles but car jackingsÂ…robberies that sort of thing," he said. Adkins described the five as familiar to police and said all had prior criminal convictions.
Dodge Ram pickups have been targets for thieves recently throughout the region. Members of the anti-crime unit focus on stolen vehicles and violent offenders. Adkins predicted their work on the streets will produce a drop in auto theft.
The two officers involved in the shootings were placed on administrative leave which is standard procedure for any officer-involved shooting.
St. Charles City police also expect to interview the suspects and could file charges in their jurisdiction. Numerous cars and trucks were broken into or stolen over last weekend.
The incident began when members of the Tactical Division's Anti-crime Unit spotted a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck reported stolen from the Comfort Suites Hotel in St. Charles City on Sunday. They followed the vehicle and succeeded in deploying spike strips to deflate the tires. Two tires went flat, but the driver continued and turned into an alley. The truck struck a guide wire and turned over.
Five suspects were in the vehicle. A woman surrendered; two men resisted arrest and were tased before police could take them into custody. Police said commands to the remaining two men to show their hands they retrieved weapons. That's when two officers, fearing for their safety, fired shots striking both men multiple times.
26-year old Jeremiah C. Henderson of the 6300 block of Sherry and 21-year old Darrell Williams of the 5400 block of Riverview were both pronounced dead at the scene. The Circuit Attorney's office is considering charges of tampering with a vehicle against the three survivors however one, 32-year old Montraill L. Claiborne of the ten block of Waterways, 63033 was charged with a drug offense.
Adkins said the investigation would continue. Police want to know, "are these individuals involved in other crimes of a similar nature ..not only dealing with stolen vehicles but car jackingsÂ…robberies that sort of thing," he said. Adkins described the five as familiar to police and said all had prior criminal convictions.
Dodge Ram pickups have been targets for thieves recently throughout the region. Members of the anti-crime unit focus on stolen vehicles and violent offenders. Adkins predicted their work on the streets will produce a drop in auto theft.
The two officers involved in the shootings were placed on administrative leave which is standard procedure for any officer-involved shooting.
St. Charles City police also expect to interview the suspects and could file charges in their jurisdiction. Numerous cars and trucks were broken into or stolen over last weekend.
