St. Louis police identify teen shot after suspected SUV theft

Joey Schneider and Kevin S. Held

3 hours ago

ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis police officer shot and killed a teenager Tuesday who was accused of stealing an SUV and pointing a gun at the officer. Authorities have since identified the teen killed in the shooting.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports that the officer shot and killed 17-year-old Emeshuon Wilkins.

SLMPD adds that Wilkins’ weapon was recovered from the scene during the investigation.

According to an SLMPD spokesman, the shooting occurred around 1 p.m. Tuesday near the corner of Whittier Street and Maffitt Avenue in The Ville neighborhood.

According to police, officers with the Anti-Crime Task Force attempted to stop a stolen SUV. The vehicle was spiked and two people eventually exited the vehicle at the intersection of Whittier and Maffitt while officers gave chase.

During the foot chase, one of the suspects ran into a backyard, turned around and pointed a gun at a police officer, who shot the armed suspect, later identified as Wilkins.

SLMPD has not yet identified the officer who killed Wilkins, but says the officer served 16 years in the police force. The officer was wearing a body camera and investigators will review the footage, according to Major Janice Bockstruck, chief of the department’s Bureau of Professional Standards.

Bockstruck also said investigators were looking into whether the teenager fired his weapon at the police officer before he was killed.

A second armed suspect was arrested during the investigation without further incident. A third person was found in the back seat of the SUV and arrested.

No officers were injured in the pursuit and shooting.