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On October 30, 2024, a traffic stop initiated by Breen Ridge Hills police escalated into a high-speed chase and an officer-involved shooting on the entrance ramp to southbound Interstate 170 at Natural Bridge Road.
The incident resulted in life-threatening injuries to the suspect and no injuries to law enforcement officers.
According to a briefing by Sergeant Panis, Public Information Supervisor for the St. Louis County Police Department, the event began when a Breen Ridge Hills officer stopped a 2014 Lexus for a license plate violation and excessively tinted windows on Calbert Avenue in Woodson Terrace.
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— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) December 14, 2024
During the stop, the officer noted signs of possible intoxication and asked the driver to exit for a field sobriety test. The driver refused and fled the scene, prompting a pursuit.
The chase traveled through residential streets and major roads, with the suspect running red lights and driving on flat tires before losing control and crashing into a ditch on the I-170 ramp.
As officers approached the vehicle, the suspect fired a weapon at law enforcement, prompting officers to return fire, striking the suspect.
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The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Javon Henderson of St. Louis, was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment. Henderson faces multiple charges, including first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and resisting arrest.
Detectives recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15-style pistol from Henderson’s vehicle. Evidence showed two fired 9mm casings inside the car. Law enforcement officers fired a total of 87 shots during the exchange.
The officers involved include a 33-year-old Breen Ridge Hills officer with nine years of experience and two Woodson Terrace officers, aged 30 and 37, with three and eight years of experience, respectively.
No officers were injured during the incident. The St. Louis County Police Department emphasized its commitment to a thorough and transparent investigation, noting that findings would be forwarded to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for independent review.
The department also reminded the public that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For more information on department policies, visit St. Louis County Police Department’s website.
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