ST. LOUIS – Two St. Louis officers are hospitalized after they were shot late Thursday night in the Soulard neighborhood.
Police arrested Cortez Sipes, 36, in the investigation. He is jailed in St. Louis City on pending charges.
The shooting happened around 10:20 p.m. Thursday, in the 800 block of Julia, near the Soulard Farmer’s Market.
Police Chief Robert Tracy says the officers were trying to pull over a Ford F-150 truck that was believed to have been used in a robbery on Lindell Tuesday. A short police chase started and the F-150 was involved in a crash at the market’s courtyard at 9th and Lafayette Streets.
The suspect got out of the truck and fired shots at the officers as they were getting out of their patrol vehicle. Both officers were shot in the torso.
The officers returned fire and the suspect was struck. He was taken into custody after collapsing in the alley. He had a gunshot wound to his ankle.
One officer was hit in the torso by a bullet. The other officer was struck in the side and the arm by a bullet.
All three gunshot victims were taken to the hospital for treatment. The suspect has now been released into police custody. His weapon was recovered at the scene. Both officers were also treated and released from the hospital.
Tracy says one of the officer who was shot is 38 years old with 14 years of service and the other is 24 years old with just two years of service. The suspect is a 36-year-old man.
Here is some of what Tracy told us after talking with one of his injured officers.
“He’s a little upset that he’s been shot at. Obviously doing a job and doing a dangerous job. But he’s actually going to be able to get through this. But being shot is not an easy thing. When I look at the pain that he was in, it hurts me to the core to think of what they do each and every day. I’ve done it in three other different cities, to see what these officers go through. The brave work that they do each and every day. St. Louisans should be proud of what these officers are doing to keep our city safe and to keep this officer safe,” said Tracy.
He added, “Let’s all remember that this is a dangerous job that we do each and every day, and our officers are dedicated to keep this city safe. Despite those dangers, we continue to do it each and every day. I’m proud of the officers that serve the St. louis Police Department, and my prayers are with them and their families.”
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has not released any names of the officers or suspects in the investigation.