ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/27/2008
UPDATED, 10:40 a.m.
10/27/2008
FLORISSANT — Florissant police say they are withholding the name for now of the suspected carjacker who was killed in front of an off-duty county police officer's home.
Police say the 18-year-old suspected carjacker was shot to death Sunday afternoon in the first block of Claire Drive by an unidentified off-duty St. Louis County police officer.
Florissant Police Chief William Karabas said he plans to keep the name of the dead person a secret until officers get warrants charging his accomplice with a crime. Police have that suspected accomplice in custody.
The detectives plan to present their findings to the prosecutor's office. Karabas said a news release announcing the charges -- and the dead man's identity -- should be issued later this afternoon.
OUR EARLIER STORY
By Joel Currier
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
FLORISSANT -- An off-duty St. Louis County police officer shot and killed a man Sunday in an alleged attempted carjacking in front of the officer's Florissant home, police said.
Shortly after 12:30 p.m., police said, an armed 18-year-old man approached the off-duty officer who had just gotten out of his car.
The officer was in his driveway in the first block of Claire Drive near New Florissant Road, police said. The gunman approached the officer and demanded the keys to the officer's blue Toyota Camry, police said.
Florissant police Lt. Tim Lowery said the officer wrested the handgun away from the suspect as they fought and fell to the ground.
The officer shot the suspect in the head during the fight, Lowery said. The officer was shaken up but not hurt.
Another 18-year-old man who was with the suspect but had not approached the officer, ran off but was arrested a short time later, Lowery said. Charges are pending against him.
Police late Sunday had not released the identities of any of the men.
"It was absolutely self-defense," Lowery said of the officer's actions.
A neighbor who lived across the street was watching the Rams game when he heard a gunshot. He walked outside and saw the suspect dead next to the driveway. He said he couldn't believe what had happened just outside his house.
"To do that right in the middle of the day, to me, that's crazy," said Mike Belcher 39. "And the guy paid for it with his life."