Watch KMOX Video: Teens flee from downtown gunfire

75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Police are trying to find the person or people who fired multiple shots in downtown St. Louis on Sunday night, causing bystanders to run for cover. The shots are believed to have been fired into the air.

The groups of youth gathered in Kiener Plaza after the Annie Malone parade. One participant guessed the crowd's ages ranged from 14 to 18 years old. Beyond shots being fired, there were several fights and downtown streets were clogged with people.

"One individual fired multiple shots into a crowd. Thankfully, no one was hurt," said city public safety director Dan Isom. "The shooter was not caught. Efforts are being made to identify who this was."

Meantime, Dr. Isom is asking parents to stop dropping-off teens downtown and leaving them unsupervised.

He says it's becoming a problem, especially on weekend nights.

"We don't want to suggest that there are bands of young kids who are running around and committing heinous crimes," Isom said in his Monday briefing, "but they are being destructive to the downtown area, whether it's with scooters or having fights or congregating in the street."

He added other big U.S. cities are also having similar problems with unsupervised youth gatherings.

Copyright 2022 Audacy (KMOX) All Rights Reserved

Featured Image Photo Credit: Derk Brown/Audacy