The search continues for a suspect who allegedly fired gunshots towards officers and an 83-year-old woman Wednesday.
The search continues for a suspect who allegedly fired gunshots towards officers and an 83-year-old woman Wednesday.
Around 1:20 a.m., St. Louis County Police officers responded to a call for a burglary-in-progress at a residence in the 10400 block of Castle Drive.
Police said responding officers observed the damage done to the residence, and heard yelling from inside the home. Then, officers heard a single gunshot from inside the house, at which point they forced their way through the door to get inside.
“So I came in the kitchen then and I sat here with my gun, and while I was sitting here all of a sudden I looked up and he was in the hallway there, squatted down with my dog and he looked at me and he said, ‘You wouldn’t shoot your dog?’ and I said, ‘Try me,'” said homeowner Darlene Honkey.
Following a struggle between the two, Honkey said the suspect took her gun and pointed it to her head.
The suspect left the home from the rear access to the house while police came through the front.
Additional officers, who were outside during the forced entry, saw the suspect flee while holding a handgun. The suspect allegedly fired the weapon at the officers outside, and the officers returned fire.
The suspect then ran to the wooded area near the home.
The victim and police officers were not injured during the course of events. At this time, it is unknown whether or not the suspect was injured.
Police dispatched the Metro Air Support, K-9 Unit, and the Tactical Operations Unit to help in their search for the suspect, who currently remains at-large.
The suspect is described as a man between the ages of 20-25, with a thin build. He is armed with a handgun, which was taken from the victim during the burglary. Police said the suspect has no known relationship to the victim.
The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
The investigation is being handled by the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department or CrimeStoppers.
