ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A St. Charles man was shot to death overnight by a police officer in Weldon Spring.
According to a spokesperson for the St. Charles County Police Department, the shooting happened around 12:35 a.m. near the intersection of Siedentop Road and Technology Drive.
Police said they were sitting in a parking lot when a car pulled alongside them to ask for directions.
“A vehicle approached them…and asked for directions,” Corporal Barry Bayles, St. Charles County Police Department, said. “Our officers, for safety purposes, exited their vehicle to talk with the individuals.”
When that happened, one of the individuals in that car got out and tried to run away. Officers chased after the person and caught him
“The passenger decided to exit the vehicle and fled on foot. A brief foot chase ensued. He was appended and struggled with our officers,” Bayles said.
Police claim the man attempted to pull out a gun, and that’s when an officer shot him.
“While he was resisting, he attempted to go for a weapon that was in his waistband, and as he was trying to go for it, our officers, for safety purposes, engaged and one of our officers pull his fire arm firing at the suspect, striking him,” Bayles said.
The wounded individual, identified as Tracy Hayes, was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. Hayes was 40.
It’s still unclear why Hayes decided to run. Police said Hayes had a criminal history, but did not elaborate.
“The driver stayed present, he did not attempt to flee or do anything, or resist the officers,” Bayles said. “The driver followed instructions and when investigators arrived, he cooperated with them, and he’s been released at this time.”
The officer who shot Hayes is 23 and has been with the department for two years, police said.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated the incident began as a traffic stop, based on police information at the time. It has been updated. We regret the error.
