Teenager shot during robbery in Soulard, police say

ST. LOUIS — Police report a teenager was shot as he and three others attempted to rob two people in a car in Soulard Saturday morning. The 16-year-old boy was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Police responded to Soulard, where two victims reported being approached near 9th Street and Russell Boulevard at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

The victims, both 24, said four people wearing dark clothing and ski masks approached their parked car. According to police, one of the men reached into the vehicle through a window and began taking out belongings belonging to the victims while another person stood behind the victims’ car with a rifle in his hand.

One of the men tried to open the victim’s car door, whereupon the passenger in the car shot the suspect, police said.

The victims drove away and told police they heard gunshots.

An off-duty security officer said he heard gunshots and saw people dragging someone into a white SUV.

A white SUV later stopped at a hospital, dropped off the 16-year-old and fled. The 16-year-old had been shot in the chest and police said he was wearing a ski mask.

The police are continuing their investigation.