WELLSTON, MO – A man is in critical condition after an officer involved shooting in Wellston. The incident happened at 10:15 AM on Saturday. Wellston’s chief of police G. T. Walker said one of his officers had made a traffic stop on Morton Street just north of Page and was questioning the driver outside of the vehicle when a man climbed from the backseat into the driver seat and attempted to drive off.
The officer jumped into the car and tried to stop the driver. They struggled and the man began driving dragging the officer, whose leg was outside of the car. Chief Walker said his officer, fearing for his life, fired several shots, striking the 34-year-old suspect in the neck.
The car careened out of control across a vacant lot stopping near a house on Chatham. The officer was treated for scrapes and released from a hospital. The suspect was taken to surgery and is listed in critical condition. Chief Walker said the other occupants of the car are cooperating with police.
St. Louis County Police are investigating the shooting.
