Officer shoots armed suspect after attempted car break-ins in St. Louis, three arrested

ST. LOUIS - An officer shot an armed suspect after police responded to a series of attempted car break-ins Saturday afternoon in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports that the suspect is hospitalized with "non-life-threatening injuries," while three others were arrested. No officers were injured over any events that transpired in this incident.

The shooting occurred around 3 p.m. Saturday near South Grand Boulevard and Chouteau Avenue, following an apparent spree of attempted car break-ins.

SLMPD says that Anti Crime Task Force detectives responded to the area Saturday afternoon "working a special detail" to investigate several car break-ins.

Officers were initially requested to stop by the QuikTrip at Jefferson and Chouteau after a tip about car break-ins. Before those officers could arrive, they were redirected to the Topgolf on Chouteau Avenue. The officers were asked to check on an Audi, which was believed to be circling the lot and connected to people looking inside vehicles.

When the responding officers arrived, they were informed the Audi just left the TopGolf parking lot and were headed in the direction of a nearby Target location. Investigators say those officers "located an Audi Q7 and individuals actively breaking into vehicles" moments later.

One officer was able to use spike strips on the Audi as the driver attempted to rush out of the parking lot near Target. The Audi then crashed into another vehicle and hit a median.

After that, four suspects reportedly bailed out of the car and took off running.

Then, police confronted one armed suspect, pursued him on foot, and "ordered to drop his gun numerous times." Sometime during that interaction, two officers fired their weapons and the armed suspect was shot in the hip.

SLMPD reports that the suspect’s weapon was recovered at the scene after he was shot. The suspect, a 25-year-old man not identified by name, was taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The three other suspects linked to the Audi - ages 18, 22 and 23 - were arrested nearby and taken into custody.

SLMPD reports that three weapons, including at least one with a sear switch, were seized from the Audi. Meanwhile, the Audi was reported stolen from HIgh Ridge, Missouri, earlier this month.

This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.