ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Police confirm two people have been shot at the corner of Market and 14th Street in Downtown St. Louis Friday morning.
In a post on 'X' from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, police say the officer interrupted a shooting involving two male suspects.
Eye witnesses tell KMOX they saw two men getting into an altercation outside of the old Municipal Court building, when one of them fired at the other.
"[The men were] talking about 'you owe me,' something like that, I heard a pop and ducked behind the War Memorial," said Trent Switzer.
St. Louis Police Major Janice Bockstruck said the two men were running in the direction of a St. Louis Police Officer who happened to be in the area.
"The suspect was chasing the victim on Market [street], shooting at the victim. The suspect then engaged the suspect."
The suspect was shot by the officer and was pronounced dead at the scene. The last update on the victim is they were taken to the hospital where he later died.
Major Bockstruck says they are still investigating if the two individuals were a part of the homeless community which had been camping out in front of the old Municipal Court building for several months.
The officer was working on a mobile surveillance camera unit across the street when the shooting broke out. According to SLMPD the cameras were on and rolling when the incident occurred and captured the events. They have not determined if and when they will release the footage.
SLMPD released this image of the firearm they recovered at the scene.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones released the following a statement:
"I'm grateful for the SLMPD officer who responded to a shooting incident in progress and upheld his duty to protect and serve," said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. "We are taking this incident seriously, and the safety of our residents and staff is paramount. The area will be secured today, and individuals will no longer be permitted to congregate near the building."
The city forestry department moved quickly to fence off the building in about an hour.