LAKESHIRE, Mo. (AP) — A man suspected of attacking his sister and nephew with a claw hammer in St. Louis County is dead after he charged at responding officers and they fatally shot him, police said Friday.
A woman in the small town of Lakeshire called police late Thursday and said a bleeding 12-year-old boy came to her home for help. The child and his mother, the suspect's 33-year-old sister, had been stabbed and attacked with a claw hammer, police said.
St. Louis County police said a Lakeshire officer and a county officer arrived to find the woman lying in the doorway and the man armed with a hammer. Police say the 30-year-old suspect was ordered to drop the hammer, but he refused and charged at the Lakeshire officer, who fired two shots.
The suspect fell but got up. County police said he raised the hammer above his head and charged the St. Louis County officer, who fired six shots.
It wasn't clear how many times the suspect was struck.
The man was taken to a hospital, where he later died. His name, and the names of the officers, have not been released.
The suspect's sister is hospitalized in stable condition with cuts to her throat and face, wounds to her hands, and a head injury. The child is in stable condition with cuts to his back, arms and hands and other injuries. The officers were not hurt.
The Lakeshire officer has 44 years of law enforcement experience, and the St. Louis County officer has eight years of experience. The officers are both on administrative leave pending the investigation.
Lakeshire, a town of 1,400 residents, is in south St. Louis County.
